Salthill-born writer Karl MacDermott released his fourth humorous novel this week, Fail Again Fail Even Better – The Struggles of an Obscure Irish Poet, which records the struggle of indefatigable anti-hero, Bosco Helly.
In the pantheon of great Irish poets, Bosco would be nowhere near that pantheon. But what he lacks in talent, technical skill, emotional depth and authenticity, he makes up for in persistence.
Over the years, possessing a Sisyphean stubbornness, he has published nearly forty volumes of poetry. Feeling an ever-increasing disconnect with the modern world, and wearying of decades of public indifference and critical contempt, he has now, however, decided that this latest volume, will be his last.
As he attempts to finish this ultimate collection, Bosco engages in a tumble down memory lane, recalling the great love of his life, Luna, and sharing his concerns about ageing. He introduces us to his circle of artistically unfulfilled friends living in that eternal bastion of blather, Dublin.
The book is ultimately a "sacred hymn to all underachievers", according to MacDermott.
"It is a paean to creative pain, but most importantly, a full-throated aria about the endurance of the human spirit," he explains.
