by Máirtín Ó. Cadhain (Author), Louis de Paor (Translator), Lochlainn O'tuairisg (Translator)
In An Eochair (The Key), one of M irt n Cadhain's most Kafkaesque short stories (and one of his longest), J., a 'paper-keeper, ' one of the more junior civil servant positions, accidentally locks himself in his office when the key breaks in the lock. The story -- a mixture of satire, farce, black comedy and, ultimately, tragedy -- relates the efforts of J. and various other characters, his wife, civil service colleagues and superiors and others, to extricate himself from his predicament. However, all efforts to free J. must be in accordance with civil service protocols, and no such protocol exists for J.'s unique dilemma.
Author Biography
M?irt?n ? Cadhain was born in 1906 in Connemara. He was a prolific short story writer and is considered to be a pioneer of Irish-language modernism. He wrote three novels, six collections of short stories, and political pamphlets. He is best known for his novel "Cr? na Cille (Graveyard Clay). "He died in 1970.