The Van (novel)

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The Van (1991) is a novel by Irish writer Roddy Doyle and the third novel in The Barrytown Trilogy, continuing the story from The Snapper (1990). It was shortlisted for the Booker Prize (1991).

The basis of the story is that Jimmy Rabbitte Sr. has been laid off from his job and has no money. His friend also gets laid off and get's a redundancy check. With this check the two friends decide to purchase a 'chipper' or Fish and Chips van. The story is about the two friends trying to deal with their new business and the stresses involved.

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 in to business with friends. 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.

[edit] Film adaptation

It was made into a movie of the same title in 1997, directed by Stephen Frears and starring Colm Meaney and Donal O'Kelly.