Jump to content

The Van (novel)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Hugo999 (talk | contribs) at 12:34, 28 December 2017 (added Category:20th-century Irish novels using HotCat). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

The Van
First edition
AuthorRoddy Doyle
LanguageEnglish
SeriesThe Barrytown Trilogy
GenreFiction, Drama
PublisherSecker & Warburg
Publication date
1991
Publication placeIreland
Media typePrint (Hardback & Paperback)
Pages312
ISBN0-436-20052-X
Preceded byThe Snapper 

The Van is a 1991 novel by Roddy Doyle and the third novel in The Barrytown Trilogy. It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1991).[1]

Premise

The basis of the story is that Jimmy Rabbitte Sr. has been laid off from his job and has no money. His friend, Brendan "Bimbo" Reeves also gets laid off and gets a redundancy cheque. With this cheque the two friends decide to purchase a 'chipper' or Fish and Chips van. Jimmy and Bimbo's friendship gets strained, because Jimmy starts to believe that Bimbo and his wife Maggie are planning the work behind his back.

It continues the themes found in the other two novels of The Barrytown Trilogy and focuses on the elder Jimmy Rabbitte and his efforts at going into business with friends.

Film adaptation

Stephen Frears turned it into a film in 1996 starring Colm Meaney as Larry (renamed from Jimmy Rabbitte) and Donal O'Kelly as Brendan 'Bimbo' Reeves who he goes into business with.

References

  1. ^ "Roddy Doyle | The Man Booker Prizes". Themanbookerprize.com. Retrieved 2012-10-01.