O'Flaherty, Liam

New York. 1961. Signet/New American Library. Reprinted Signet Classic Paperback Edition. Very Good in Wrappers. 0451504070. With an afterword by Donagh MacDonagh. 189 pages. paperback. CQ407. keywords: Signet Classic Paperback. FROM THE PUBLISHER - This is Liam O'Flaherty's great novel of a troubled Ireland divided by the chaos of Civil War in the 1920's. It is the story of an informer, damned with the curse of his country's unforgivable sin, hunted by the shadowy executioners of an outlawed revolutionary organization. Two characters dominate this tragedy of betrayal and retribution: Gypo Nolan, the hulking oaf of a giant who, under stress of poverty, discloses the whereabouts of the wanted Frankie McPhillip for the paltry twenty - pound reward; and Dan Gallagher, the egotistical commandant of the militant organization that has sworn to hunt down and kill the unknown informer. Through the fogbound Dublin slum streets they re - enact the eternal drama of man pitted against man. A classic of modern literature, The Informer treats a recurrent theme in Irish folklore, ballad, and story . the abhorrent outcast who betrays a cause or a people to the enemy. The violence of O'Flaherty's own youth is reflected in his harshly realistic image of an Irish Republic at war with itself, suffering the birth pangs of newly gained independence, beset by the self - destructive forces of misguided idealism and anarchy. inventory #39631 ISBN: 0451504070.