Raymond Queneau's novel We Always Treat Women Too Well (John Calder) is a refreshingly irreverent little novel. Queneau who had, as far as I know, never been to Ireland, draws liberally from a score of Irish classics, most notably Joyce's Ulysses, in telling this fictitious account of a band of rebels who capture the Eden Quay post office during the 1916 Easter Rising. Their evacuation of the building misses one unfortunate young English teller who had chosen an unfortunate time to powder her nose. As the pure-hearted boys strive to liberate their country, Gertie Gridle endeavours to subvert their cause and their innocence as her contribution to king and country.

The result is both insightful and hilarious.