''The Van'' is a 1991 novel by

Roddy Doyle Roddy Doyle (born 8 May 1958) is an Irish novelist, dramatist and screenwriter. He is the author of eleven novels for adults, eight books for children, seven plays and screenplays, and dozens of short stories. Several of his books have been ma ...

and the third novel in ''

The Barrytown Trilogy ''The Barrytown Trilogy'', later also referred to as ''The Barrytown Pentalogy'', is an Irish comedy-drama media franchise centred on the Rabbittes, a working-class family from Barrytown, Dublin. It began in 1988 when Beacon Pictures and 20t ...

''. It was shortlisted for the

Booker Prize The Booker Prize, formerly known as the Booker Prize for Fiction (1969–2001) and the Man Booker Prize (2002–2019), is a Literary award, literary prize awarded each year for the best novel written in English and published in the United King ...

(1991).

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 is laid off and receives a redundancy cheque. With this cheque, the two friends decide to purchase a 'chipper' (fish and chips van). Jimmy and Bimbo's friendship becomes strained, because Jimmy starts to believe that Bimbo and his wife Maggie are planning the work behind his back. The story continues 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 Stephen Arthur Frears (born 20 June 1941) is an English director and producer of film and television often depicting real life stories as well as projects that explore social class through sharply drawn characters. He's received numerous accola ...

turned it into a

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

in 1996 starring

Colm Meaney Colm J. Meaney (; ga, Colm Ó Maonaigh; born 30 May 1953) is an Irish actor known for playing Miles O'Brien in '' Star Trek: The Next Generation'' (1987–1994) and '' Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'' (1993–1999). He has guest-starred on many T ...

as Larry (renamed from Jimmy Rabbitte) and

Donal O'Kelly Donal O'Kelly (born 1958) is an Irish playwright and actor. Early life O'Kelly was born in Dublin in 1958. He worked in the Irish Civil Service as a computer programmer, before quitting to become active in theatre and politics. Career O'Kelly' ...

as Brendan 'Bimbo' Reeves who he goes into business with.

References

1991 Irish novels Novels by Roddy Doyle Sequel novels Novels set in Dublin (city) Irish novels adapted into films Secker & Warburg books Novels set in the 1980s Novels set in the 1990s {{1990s-novel-stub