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A Confederacy of Dunces
by Toole, John Kennedy (Foreword By Walker Percy)
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- Very Good + Book/Very Good + Dust Jacket
- ISBN 10
- 0807106577
- ISBN 13
- 9780807106570
- Seller
-
Pasadena, California, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1980. 1st Edition 1st Printing. Cloth. Very Good + Book/Very Good + Dust Jacket. First Printing (1980 Date On Title And Copyright Pages, No Additional Printing Indicated.) In First Issue Dust Jacket (Price Clipped, Walker Percy Review On Back Panel, No Sun Times Review). Near Fine Book, Slight Bumping At Bottom Of Spine, Some Rubbing At Part Of Top And Bottom Edges Of Spine With 1/32" Pull Tear At Top Of Spine. Ownership Signature Of The Father Of A Friend Of Toole's ( Who Brought Toole Over To His Home). Dj With Wear And Minute Losses At Corners, A 7/8" Long, Up To 1/4" Deep Chip At Top Of Spine.
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
- Arroyo Seco Books
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 036485
- Title
- A Confederacy of Dunces
- Author
- Toole, John Kennedy (Foreword By Walker Percy)
- Format/Binding
- Cloth
- Book Condition
- Used - Very Good + Book
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good + Dust Jacket
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Edition
- 1st Edition 1st Printing
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0807106577
- ISBN 13
- 9780807106570
- Publisher
- Louisiana State University Press
- Place of Publication
- Baton Rouge
- Date Published
- 1980
- Keywords
- Classics
- Bookseller catalogs
- Rare And Unusual Books; Literature: Twentieth and Twenty-First Century;
- X weight
- 0 lb
Terms of Sale
Arroyo Seco Books
Payment by credit card, check, PayPal or, for orders over $1000, by bank transfer. US Shipping by USPS media mail, at standard rate shown, but large or heavy items may require additional postage. Shipments valued over $200 may be sent with insurance, and/or with signature confirmation required. International shipments sent only by insured USPS mail (Priority Mail or Priority Express Mail or Express Guaranteed). Shipments to the UK may require additional shipping charges to provide insurance as they lack a nationally insured postal system. Sales within California and many other states are subject to sales tax. International shipments may be subject to Customs duties or fees and/or VAT which are the responsibility of the buyer. Postage will not be refunded for unaccepted packages; please review your order for correct addressing.
About the Seller
Arroyo Seco Books
Biblio member since 2013
Pasadena, California
About Arroyo Seco Books
Arroyo Seco Books lists about 26,000 used books in all fields, including physics, art, philosophy, social science, literature, science fiction, etc. We also stock modern and antiquarian prints and other art. Most items are listed in 100 catalogs titled by subject matter, and available on this site. We purchase interesting private libraries. Member of IOBA. Contact: Stephen Clauser, 626-372-3863.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Rubbing
- Abrasion or wear to the surface. Usually used in reference to a book's boards or dust-jacket.
- Cloth
- "Cloth-bound" generally refers to a hardcover book with cloth covering the outside of the book covers. The cloth is stretched...
- Spine
- The outer portion of a book which covers the actual binding. The spine usually faces outward when a book is placed on a shelf....
- Edges
- The collective of the top, fore and bottom edges of the text block of the book, being that part of the edges of the pages of a...
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