The Looney: An Irish Fantasy: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox book | {{Infobox book | ||
| name = The Looney: An Irish Fantasy | | name = The Looney: An Irish Fantasy | ||
| Line 10: | Line 9: | ||
| language = English | | language = English | ||
| series = | | series = | ||
| subject = [[Comic novel]] | | subject = [[w:Comic novel|Comic novel]] | ||
| genre = [[Comedy]] | | genre = [[w:Comedy|Comedy]] | ||
| publisher = [[Michael Joseph (publisher)|Michael Joseph]] | | publisher = [[w:Michael Joseph (publisher)|Michael Joseph]] | ||
| pub_date = 1987 | | pub_date = 1987 | ||
| media_type = Print ([[Hardback]] & [[Paperback]]) | | media_type = Print ([[w:Hardback|Hardback]] & [[w:Paperback|Paperback]]) | ||
| pages = 192 | | pages = 192 | ||
| isbn = 0-7181-2870-2 | | isbn = 0-7181-2870-2 | ||
| Line 22: | Line 21: | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''''The Looney: An Irish Fantasy''''' is a [[comic novel]] by [[Spike Milligan]]. It was first published in 1987<ref>[[British Library]]: [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/U4IKP79Y8BIUJ9LM2KSVF95PHAN2FBA16HEABQJ2SML7KR1MT1-61180?func=full-set-set&set_number=132384&set_entry=000004&format=999 Catalogue Entry (hardback)]</ref> with the paperback edition in 1988.<ref>[[British Library]]: [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/U4IKP79Y8BIUJ9LM2KSVF95PHAN2FBA16HEABQJ2SML7KR1MT1-61185?func=full-set-set&set_number=132384&set_entry=000005&format=999 Catalogue Entry (paperback)]</ref> It is his second full-length original novel.<ref>[[BBC]]:[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2913407.stm Stars attend Spike première]</ref> | '''''The Looney: An Irish Fantasy''''' is a [[w:comic novel|comic novel]] by [[Spike Milligan]]. It was first published in 1987<ref>[[w:British Library|British Library]]: [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/U4IKP79Y8BIUJ9LM2KSVF95PHAN2FBA16HEABQJ2SML7KR1MT1-61180?func=full-set-set&set_number=132384&set_entry=000004&format=999 Catalogue Entry (hardback)]</ref> with the paperback edition in 1988.<ref>[[w:British Library|British Library]]: [http://catalogue.bl.uk/F/U4IKP79Y8BIUJ9LM2KSVF95PHAN2FBA16HEABQJ2SML7KR1MT1-61185?func=full-set-set&set_number=132384&set_entry=000005&format=999 Catalogue Entry (paperback)]</ref> It is his second full-length original novel.<ref>[[w:BBC|BBC]]:[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/2913407.stm Stars attend Spike première]</ref> | ||
== Plot summary == | == Plot summary == | ||
The principal protagonist of the novel is Mick Looney, an Irish [[construction worker]] from [[Kilburn, London]], who comes to the conclusion that he is the rightful [[King of Ireland]]. | The principal protagonist of the novel is Mick Looney, an Irish [[w:construction worker|construction worker]] from [[w:Kilburn, London|Kilburn]], who comes to the conclusion that he is the rightful [[w:King of Ireland|King of Ireland]]. | ||
The first portion of the novel is set in Kilburn as Looney's fantasy of royal descent takes hold. He purchases a [[second hand]] chair to be his royal [[throne]] while arranging his return to Ireland. There are a number of subplots featuring various eccentric people he has dealings with, the main one concerning two [[illegal immigrants]] from India who become Looney's [[leasehold estate|tenant]]s. | The first portion of the novel is set in Kilburn as Looney's fantasy of royal descent takes hold. He purchases a [[w:second hand|second hand]] chair to be his royal [[w:throne|throne]] while arranging his return to Ireland. There are a number of subplots featuring various eccentric people he has dealings with, the main one concerning two [[w:illegal immigrants|illegal immigrants]] from India who become Looney's [[w:leasehold estate|tenant|]]s. | ||
The second, larger, portion of the novel is set in and around the fictional Irish [[village]] of Drool, where Looney goes to research his royal claim. While doing this he takes a job as a [[handyman]] at the local [[castle]], from which a valuable [[racehorse]] is stolen. After a number of subplots concerning the eccentric residents of Drool and its castle, Looney recovers the racehorse and receives a large cash reward, much of which he accidentally burns and the remainder of which he spends in the [[pub]] buying drinks for the villagers. Having reconnected with his Irish roots, but realising that his quest for wealth and status is futile, he returns to Kilburn and sells his "throne". | The second, larger, portion of the novel is set in and around the fictional Irish [[w:village|village]] of Drool, where Looney goes to research his royal claim. While doing this he takes a job as a [[w:handyman|handyman]] at the local [[w:castle|castle]], from which a valuable [[w:racehorse|racehorse]] is stolen. After a number of subplots concerning the eccentric residents of Drool and its castle, Looney recovers the racehorse and receives a large cash reward, much of which he accidentally burns and the remainder of which he spends in the [[w:pub|pub]] buying drinks for the villagers. Having reconnected with his Irish roots, but realising that his quest for wealth and status is futile, he returns to Kilburn and sells his "throne". | ||
== Style == | == Style == | ||
The book uses [[Political correctness|politically incorrect]] language and, as with much of Milligan's writing, makes use of national and racial [[stereotype]]s however Milligan dismissed the suggestion that this was itself racist.<ref>[[The Independent]]: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/you-ask-the-questions-spike-milligan-1100423.html You ask the questions: Spike Milligan]</ref> The most violently racist language and attitudes are ascribed to the most ignorant and unsympathetic characters, such as the [[neo-Nazi]] [[traffic warden]]. | The book uses [[w:Political correctness|politically incorrect]] language and, as with much of Milligan's writing, makes use of national and racial [[w:stereotype|stereotype]]s however Milligan dismissed the suggestion that this was itself racist.<ref>[[w:The Independent|The Independent]]: [https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/you-ask-the-questions-spike-milligan-1100423.html You ask the questions: Spike Milligan]</ref> The most violently racist language and attitudes are ascribed to the most ignorant and unsympathetic characters, such as the [[w:neo-Nazi|neo-Nazi]] [[w:traffic warden|traffic warden]]. | ||
== References == | == References == | ||
| Line 43: | Line 42: | ||
[[Category:Novels set in Ireland]] | [[Category:Novels set in Ireland]] | ||
[[Category:Michael Joseph books]] | [[Category:Michael Joseph books]] | ||
Latest revision as of 18:55, 8 January 2023
 First edition | |
| Author | Spike Milligan |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Comic novel |
| Genre | Comedy |
| Publisher | Michael Joseph |
Publication date | 1987 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 192 |
| ISBN | 0-7181-2870-2 |
| OCLC | 60043977 |
| Preceded by | Puckoon |
The Looney: An Irish Fantasy is a comic novel by Spike Milligan. It was first published in 1987[1] with the paperback edition in 1988.[2] It is his second full-length original novel.[3]
Plot summary
The principal protagonist of the novel is Mick Looney, an Irish construction worker from Kilburn, who comes to the conclusion that he is the rightful King of Ireland.
The first portion of the novel is set in Kilburn as Looney's fantasy of royal descent takes hold. He purchases a second hand chair to be his royal throne while arranging his return to Ireland. There are a number of subplots featuring various eccentric people he has dealings with, the main one concerning two illegal immigrants from India who become Looney's tenant|s.
The second, larger, portion of the novel is set in and around the fictional Irish village of Drool, where Looney goes to research his royal claim. While doing this he takes a job as a handyman at the local castle, from which a valuable racehorse is stolen. After a number of subplots concerning the eccentric residents of Drool and its castle, Looney recovers the racehorse and receives a large cash reward, much of which he accidentally burns and the remainder of which he spends in the pub buying drinks for the villagers. Having reconnected with his Irish roots, but realising that his quest for wealth and status is futile, he returns to Kilburn and sells his "throne".
Style
The book uses politically incorrect language and, as with much of Milligan's writing, makes use of national and racial stereotypes however Milligan dismissed the suggestion that this was itself racist.[4] The most violently racist language and attitudes are ascribed to the most ignorant and unsympathetic characters, such as the neo-Nazi traffic warden.
