A barbarism often seemingly untouched by any notions of manners and civility predominates in his characters, who present at times some "wild man of Borneo" features like those of figures in carnival sideshows years ago--but that are far from fraudulent or fictitious in O'Flaherty's portrayals. This wildness and instability are not only preeminent in O'Flaherty's fiction but also prevalent in his life.
A brilliant student, he was recruited for an education on the mainland, where a secondary education could be obtained for relatively little money if a student appeared to demonstrate a bent toward the priesthood. After being educated by Roman Catholic priests on the supposition that he would study for the priesthood, in 1914 he entered Holy Cross College, the Dublin diocesan seminary. He stayed there only three months, however, before leaving and enrolling in University College, Dublin, where he became active in political support for the Irish Republican rebels. O'Flaherty's life continued to follow such anti-authoritarian dispositions: while still at University College he suddenly decided to enter the Irish Guards of the British army, and he served in the infantry in France and Belgium in World War I.
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