The Lost Novel That Never Was

Brian O'Brien claimed he lost the manuscript for his masterpiece, The Third Policeman, after it failed to find a publisher. In reality, he kept it hidden away for decades, and the book only reached readers a year after his death.

This surreal novel was written between 1939 and 1940, but the author was so discouraged by its initial rejection that he lied about its existence. He maintained this ruse for the rest of his life, even telling friends the work was gone forever. It was only discovered among his papers posthumously. This strange history of suppression adds a layer of mystery to the already bizarre and whimsical story.