After The Wake (Classic Irish Fiction) by Brendan Behan

by Brendan Behan

From the acclaimed author of Borstal Boy and The Quare Fellow, this is a collection of seven prose works, two stories and a series of articles.

Genres: Short Stories, Irish Literature, Fiction, Ireland, Classics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

About the author

Early association with the Irish republican army and experiences in prison influenced works, including The Quare Fellow , the play of 1954, and the autobiographical Borstal Boy in 1958 of Brendan Francis Behan, writer.

Brendan Francis Behan composed poetry, short stories, and novels in English. He also volunteered.

A mother in the inner city of Dublin bore Brendan Francis Behan into an educated class family. Christine English, his grandmother, owned a number of properties in the area and the house on Russell street near Mountjoy square. Peadar Kearney, his uncle and author of song and the national anthem, also lived in the area. Stephen Behan, his father, acted in the war of independence, painted houses, and read classic literature to the children at bedtime from such sources as Émile Zola, John Galsworthy, and Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant; Kathleen Behan, his mother, took them on literary tours of the city. From father, interest of Behan in literature came; his mother originated his political ideas. She politically acted in all her life and personally befriended Michael Collins. Brendan Behan lamented "The Laughing Boy" at the age of thirteen to Collins. His mother gave the affectionate nickname, the title, to Collins. Kathleen published "Mother of all the Behans," a collaboration with Brian Behan, another son, in 1984.

Peadar Kearney, uncle of Brendan Francis Behan, composed Amhrán na bhFiann , the national anthem. People best knew "The Patriot Game," the song of Dominic Behan, his also renowned brother; Brian Behan, another sibling, a prominent radical political activist, spoke in public, acted, and authored. Brendan and Brian shared not the same views, especially when the question of politics or nationalism arose. Brendan on his deathbed presumably in jest asked Cathal Goulding, then the chief of staff, to "have that bastard Brian shot—we've had all sorts in our family, but never a traitor!"

From a drinking session, Brendan Francis Behan at the age of eight years in 1931 returned home on one day with his granny and a crony, Ulick O'Connor recounts. A passerby remarked, "Oh, my! Isn't it terrible ma'am to see such a beautiful child deformed?" "How dare you", said his granny. "He's not deformed, he's just drunk!"

Brendan Francis Behan left school at 13 years of age to follow in footsteps of his father as a house painter.

Reviews

[Jay Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a joy to read. The voices of the narrators shine with a distinctively Dublin twang, the pace of the tales is swift and buoyant, the wit never misses. One of the best books I've read in a long time, if only for the skill of the author in making the reader feel at home. 4.5.

[Brendan McKee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliant collection of short fiction that shows off Behan’s skill as a writer. As always, these stories are written as though autobiographical and yet almost certainly aren’t, they display Behan’s characteristic wit and charm.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say - love the man first from Borstal Boy or the Hostage. This is for Behan-addicts and I loved it. When you think of writing "The Catacombs" at that time, you understand why this went unpublished.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I loved it - even the bad parts - and I was relieved because I'd been so leg down by behans writing previously

Some of the more dialogue heavy sections in the same again, please left something to be desired BUT you can't defeat the detail, the turn of phrase, and the feeling of the collection as a whole

I never realised how well behan handles death in his writing. the execution was simple but brutally depressing.

my favourite was the catacombs

[Max Nemtsov · Rating 5 out of 5]

В этой подборке — организованные остатки: рассказы, собранные по разным источникам, включая рукописные, и газетные колонки. Рассказы великолепны, среди лучших в жанре, колонки отчасти были растворены в «Ирландском бунтаре». Но пару выражений Биэн в язык тут нам все-таки подарил: «Пейте чай, пока мокрый», например, или «прораб на фабрике головоломок».

[Michael Dhar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Behan's dialogue is just so entertaining, so very Irish. These are fragments, short pieces, stories and bits of memoir (I think), so it's hard to judge it as a whole, coherent work. But I can see why people love this author -- this is the first thing I've read by him. Putting "Borstal Boy" on the list.

[Pierce Lockett · Rating 4 out of 5]

invariably quick and lucid, a bit too “close to the ground” in the sense that the narrator is entirely preoccupied with convincing you that these are real people. feels like seeing someone under a fluorescent light: wrinkled, deep, sort of disfigured. irish in the pejorative sense tbf

[джаймс X · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Catacombs is a very fine story, and it's not the only gem in this.

[Aaron Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually read the first edition paperback from 1983 but went with this one as there is no cover photo for the first edition. Anyhow to the title itself and what I thought. There's no question that Behan is a talented author and is deservedly considered a classic writer of Ireland. I didn't have an issue with his writing style and it is evident that he poured his heart and soul into his work which is plainly obvious upon reading his work. The issue I personally had was perhaps cultural in the sense that most of his stories are centered around politics and ritual's of Irish life in the 30's and 40's which really in this instance did not captivate me in any way whatsoever, neither could I relate. Many of the stories in this collection are also autobiographical in nature and really didn't find Behan all that interesting if I'm being completely honest without sounding arrogant. All are very well written and most come without any sort of narrative which just focus on every day life seen through the eyes of Behan which doesn't bother me usually as I'm one which welcomes stories without the neatly tied ending. In saying that however, many simply fell flat without any sort of impact or feeling. Again this is all just subjective and is purely how I felt after completing the book.

The Last of Mrs. Murphy- Is a previously unpublished prose piece and was included here for the first time. The story is clearly an autobiographical piece with use of Behan's sharp wit to depict a childhood memory: the author, on his fifth birthday, is taken to a shop for his first drink by an elderly neighbor and is essentially introduced to Alcohol which ironically led to his untimely death at the early age of 41.

I Become a Borstal Boy- The story which Brendan is best known for and chronicles Behan's experiences as a juvenile inmate in an English reform school after being arrested for an IRA-related bombing mission. Don't get me wrong, the guy had plenty of colorful life experience, just not in the sense it interested me greatly.

The Execution- Is a tragicomedy about the hours leading up to an execution and serves as a critique of capital punishment.

The Confirmation Suit- This one was probably one of my favorites of the collection and is about a young boy who is ashamed of his ill-fitting confirmation suit, which was made by a beloved but poor, elderly neighbor. The story is chock-full of typical Irish wit and has bags of characteristic humor.

After the Wake- The title story of the book caused a stir upon publication for its frank portrayal of male friendship and its nod to homosexuality. The story is subtle and includes themes of finding solace in difficult circumstances.

A Woman of No Standing- The story is a character study of a man who has died, told from the perspective of those who are left to remember him and deal with the aftermath of his life, which was heavily influenced by societal judgments at that time.

The Catacombs- An unfinished novel and set within a real gathering place for an eclectic group of creative and rebellious figures, including most notably author J.P. Donleavy, where they would all drink and socialize late into the night.

The Same Again, Please- are (selections from his newspaper columns) and host an array of stories focusing on life in the early mid to late 1940's Ireland. Some of these were especially quirky and fun and had no real meaning which of course wasn't necessary for these short pieces to conclude the book.

I gave the book 2 stars purely based on how well written the stories and articles were but probably won't seek out any further work by Brendan Behan. One thing I will say in closing is that its honest, bold and brave for the time it was written so kudos to Behan on that front.

[Frank Callaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I so wanted to really like this book. This is a writer whose name I remember being immortalised in my childhood. The Irish connection was such I guess, that it wouldn't much matter what he wrote, it would be held in high esteem. My father, who condemned Lawrence as ' a dirty old man', would forgive Behan any amount of profanity, as he wrote either in Gaelic or in the Irish brogue.
So this is the second book by Brendan Behan I have read in succession, and neither of them really did it much for me. I was sorely disappointed to find that they were both a series of short episodes, or articles written for the newspaper, which was much how he made a living as a jobbing writer. One senses that he was seldom sober long enough to manage a long novel, which is a great shame, because there is enough wit, humour and depth of feeling in his writing, to say nothing of a gifted natural style, to make parts of it totally absorbing.
But not enough of it alas. I want more to get my teeth into than the two books I have read. Amused as I might have been by some of his accounts of a life driven by drink and the Irish cause, I want more of substance. For me it spells out a life wasted.
So, it's a 3 from me for those parts which I liked, but I needed to like more.

[Moss · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of stories unclear and meandering. ‘Catacombs’ was my favourite, Behan’s best work always pulsing with his honest, sordid, shrewd and charming personality. If only he wasn’t such a drunk he could have written more. But maybe that’s a life half lived…

[Mikeeee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great bunch of short stories and my first Brendan Behan read. Overall really enjoyed reading these specifically for the feel of the stories, it’s set up to feel quite personal as if you were there which is always great for me personally.

[An Seachránaí · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even Brendan Behan signing the back of a cheque should be marked essential reading

[Cecelia Dowling · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
brendan i love you i will follow in your footsteps (become a house painter)

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the fiction pieces, the essays were so-so.

[Mark Schultz · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Wake, Brendan Behan, 1981 (posthumous). This is a collection of published and unpublished short stories and newspaper columns by the Irish writer Brendan Behan. While I found some of the stories interesting, I thought the best pieces were the selections from Behan’s “The Same Again, Please” articles published by the Irish Times between 1954 and 1956. They were funny, enlightening, as well as (nearly always) irreverent. It has been a while since I’ve read any Behan, and never had I read the columns. Glad I have. While some of the characters are caricatures, there is real belly-laugh humor here. Especially “The Tale of Genocky’s Motor Car” and “To Die without Seeing Dublin!” Snippets of songs and phrases in Irish were also enjoyable to see.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixture of short pieces and excerpts from newspaper columns, the standard varies, but Behan's voice is always strong in the mix.

[Conor Farrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

wonderous read. Fantastic portrayal of the vernacular language of the day