Flotsam & Jetsam

by Aidan Higgins

Considered to be one of the best Irish writers of the twentieth century, Aidan Higgins has earned a reputation throughout Europe as an unusual and astringent prose stylist. This omnibus of selected short fiction is the perfect introduction to the talents of this Irish successor to James Joyce and Samuel Beckett (although Higgins's work is perhaps more reminiscent of his Welsh contemporary Dylan Thomas), and displays Higgins's warmth of language and character. From a melancholy tale of suicide in "North Salt Holdings" to a colorful depiction of J. J. Catchpole's escapades in "Catchpole, " Higgins builds his characters into touching failures who both attract and repulse the reader.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

470 pages, Paperback

First published January 27, 1997

About the author

Aidan Higgins was an Irish writer. He wrote short stories, travel pieces, radio drama and novels.

Reviews

[David Markwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had never heard of Aidan Higgins and saw this book a few years ago. I will admit I picked it up the upon first sight because it had a similar cover motif as Wittgenstein's Mistress. Higgins is a fine Irish author. The Heir to Joyce's language but with Beckett's sensibilities. Higgins uses florid prose to paint pictures of the modern world that range from stunningly beautiful to terrifying. Definitely worth checking out.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

a mix of his writings over the years