BEHAN, Brendan. The Quare Fellow: A Comedy-Drama (With autograph “Brendan, The The Quare Fellow”)

London: Methuen & Co, 1956. First edition, first impression. pp. 86. Black cloth. Title in gilt on spine. A fine copy in a very good dust-jacket. With tipped-in autograph on front endpaper by the author.

The Quare Fellow marked Brendan Behan’s dramatic debut and remains one of the most important works of 20th-century Irish theatre. First performed in Dublin in 1954 and later staged in London, the play boldly explores themes of capital punishment, prison life, and human dignity through the lens of dark humour and sharp social commentary. Set in a Mountjoy-like prison, the narrative follows the days leading up to an execution, where the condemned man is never seen but whose presence haunts every scene. This powerful structural device cements the play’s reputation for innovation and psychological insight.

For collectors and connoisseurs of rare Irish literature, a first edition of The Quare Fellow is an exceptional find. Brendan Behan’s literary voice—raw, compassionate, and unmistakably Dublin—resonates strongly in this work, which helped launch his career as a major Irish playwright. Behan’s unique blend of street vernacular, wit, and political undertone makes this play a cornerstone of post-war Irish drama.

At De Búrca Rare Books, we specialise in sourcing rare and collectable Irish first editions, and The Quare Fellow is a standout example. A signed or early copy not only holds literary value but is a testament to Behan’s complex legacy as a rebel, writer, and icon of Irish cultural identity. This is a must-have for any serious collection of Irish theatrical works or 20th-century literature.

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