Schmidt Happens is a 2019 book by Irish journalist and author Paul Howard and is the nineteenth novel in the Ross O'Carroll-Kelly series[1][2][3]

Schmidt Happens
AuthorPaul Howard
IllustratorAlan Clarke
Cover artistAlan Clarke
LanguageEnglish
SeriesRoss O'Carroll-Kelly
GenreComic novel, satire
Set inDublin, 2017
Published29 August 2019, Penguin Books
Publication placeRepublic of Ireland
Media typePrint: paperback
Pages384
ISBN978-1-84488-451-3
823.92
Preceded byDancing with the Tsars 
Followed byBraywatch 

The title refers to the Ireland rugby manager Joe Schmidt and the expression "shit happens."

Background

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A documentary entitled We Need to Talk About Ross aired on RTÉ One on 2 September 2019, following Howard writing Schmidt Happens and a Ross one-man play.[4]

Plot

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Sorcha has just given birth to Fionn's child, and Fionn comes to live with Ross and family. The triplets become notorious as troublemakers around Dublin. Ross's mother Fionnuala seeks revenge after Ross nearly let her choke to death in the previous book. Charles works with shadowy Russian interests in order to become Taoiseach. Meanwhile, Ross gets an unexpected call from Joe Schmidt, who is interested in his famous Rugby Tactics Book.

Reception

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Writing for the RTÉ website, Hannah Byrne awarded it 5 stars out a possible 5, saying "the distinctly Irish comedy will unfailingly evoke a fit of giggles from the reader. […] the story can be curiously heartwarming too at times."[5]

Schmidt Happens sold 23,656 copies in 2019.[6] It was nominated for Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the 2019 Irish Book Awards.[7]

References

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  1. ^ O'Carroll-Kelly, Ross (5 September 2019). Schmidt Happens. Penguin Ireland. ISBN 9781844884513 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Sean O'Rourke and other men on their smoking-hot barbecue food". www.irishexaminer.com. 19 July 2019.
  3. ^ "'Schmidt Happens' by Paul Howard aka Ross O'Carroll Kelly".
  4. ^ Courtney, Kevin. "TV guide: 27 of the best shows to watch this week". The Irish Times.
  5. ^ "Reviewed: Schmidt Happens by Ross O'Carroll-Kelly". 5 September 2019 – via www.rte.ie. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ Doyle, Martin. "The bestselling book in Ireland for 2019 revealed". The Irish Times.
  7. ^ Doyle, Martin. "Irish Book Awards 2019 shortlists revealed". The Irish Times.