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A Confederacy of Dunces
by John Kennedy Toole
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Near Fine/Very Good
- ISBN 10
- 0807106577
- ISBN 13
- 9780807106570
- Seller
-
Monroe, Georgia, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
A clean and tight 4th printing copy of the first edition in a bright and crisp 2nd issue DJ with $12.95 on the front flap and 5 blurbs on the rear panel. There is some light wear on the DJ corners and very light foxing on the book edge. No award sticker on the front DJ panel.
Synopsis
A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel written by John Kennedy Toole, published in 1980, 11 years after the author died by suicide at the age of 31. The book was published through the efforts of writer Walker Percy (who also contributed a revealing foreword) and Toole's mother, Thelma Toole. In 1981, it won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, granting posthumous recognition to John Kennedy Toole. The novel has since gained a cult following and is celebrated as a classic of American literature. Set in New Orleans during the 1960s, A Confederacy of Dunces revolves around the eccentric and socially awkward protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly. Ignatius is an obese, unemployed, highly educated man who lives with his overbearing mother. The novel follows Ignatius as he navigates various misadventures, often clashing with the world around him due to his pompous intellect and disdain for modern society. Ignatius is a self-proclaimed philosopher and writer who spends most of his time writing in his ever-present journal, "The Journal of a Working Boy," where he criticizes the world's perceived injustices. Ignatius's life takes an unexpected turn when his mother forces him to find a job to contribute to their finances. His misadventures in the working world lead him to cross paths with a colorful cast of characters, including his eccentric employer, a former girlfriend, a politically active barmaid, a black prostitute, and a policeman who becomes obsessed with exposing Ignatius's alleged communist activities. The novel's humor lies in the absurd situations, ironic dialogue, and the juxtaposition of Ignatius's intellectual pretensions with the realities of his daily life. Through Ignatius's escapades, the novel explores themes of societal conformity, alienation, and the clash between traditional values and modernity.
Read More: Identifying first editions of A Confederacy of Dunces
Reviews
On Dec 7 2004, Pazzo Books said:
One of the most built up novels of all time - while it didn't fall flat on its face by any means, the build up ruins it. Extremely funny at times, but impossibly uneven. If no one has ever told you it's the best book ever, give it a try.
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Details
- Bookseller
- 310 WALTON ST
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 6724
- Title
- A Confederacy of Dunces
- Author
- John Kennedy Toole
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0807106577
- ISBN 13
- 9780807106570
- Publisher
- Louisiana State University Press
- Place of Publication
- Baton Rouge
- Date Published
- 1980
Terms of Sale
310 WALTON ST
30 day return guarantee, with full refund including shipping costs for up to 30 days after delivery if an item arrives misdescribed or damaged.
About the Seller
310 WALTON ST
Biblio member since 2011
Monroe, Georgia
About 310 WALTON ST
Internet sales only since 1997.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- First Edition
- In book collecting, the first edition is the earliest published form of a book. A book may have more than one first edition in...
- Crisp
- A term often used to indicate a book's new-like condition. Indicates that the hinges are not loosened. A book described as crisp...
- Tight
- Used to mean that the binding of a book has not been overly loosened by frequent use.
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