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A Confederacy of Dunces
by Toole, John Kennedy
- Used
- near fine
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Near Fine/Very Good
- Seller
-
Whitby, Ontario, Canada
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
Baton Rouge and London: Louisiana State University Press, 1980. Hardcover. Near Fine/Very Good. 8vo (medium). 5th Printing. Tan cloth binding. vii, [5], 338 pp. Light bruising to extremities. Spine a little cocked. Dust jacket is chipped to extremities, worn to spine head, a few short tears and some creasing. Same as third printing jacket with Chicago Sun-Times blurb. Later printing of Toole's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which has a sad but remarkable publication history. After this book being turned down by nearly every publisher in the U.S., Toole unfortunately took his own life. His mother Thelma D. Toole worked hard to have it published posthumously, which it finally was by Walker Percy. LSU took a chance on an initial print run of 2500, but it rapidly became a commercial and critical success and went through several successive print runs.
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
- Minotavros Books
(CA)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 014231
- Title
- A Confederacy of Dunces
- Author
- Toole, John Kennedy
- Format/Binding
- Hardcover
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Jacket Condition
- Very Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Publisher
- Louisiana State University Press
- Place of Publication
- Baton Rouge and London
- Date Published
- 1980
- Keywords
- Fiction, Comedy, Humour, Wit, Satire, Pulitzer Prize, John Kennedy Toole
- Bookseller catalogs
- Comedy; Fiction;
Terms of Sale
Minotavros Books
Minotavros Books. 10 Sunray St., Suite 4 Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1N 9B5. Phone: (905) 424-2641. Email: info@minotavrosbooks.com. As a valued customer, we guarantee that the condition of our books are as described. If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, returns are eligible within 30 days after your book is received.
All prices listed in Canadian dollars. We guarantee that all items are properly packaged and handled with care. Please allow one to two business days for your order to be shipped. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. All sales will be shipped with a tracking number for your convenience.
All prices listed in Canadian dollars. We guarantee that all items are properly packaged and handled with care. Please allow one to two business days for your order to be shipped. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. All sales will be shipped with a tracking number for your convenience.
About the Seller
Minotavros Books
Biblio member since 2018
Whitby, Ontario
About Minotavros Books
Welcome to the Labyrinth. At Minotavros Books, we invite you to discover a maze of knowledge, where you will find fine and rare books on some of the most diverse and intriguing subjects. There is something for every palette, from folklore & fairy tales around the world to alchemy and esoterica, in addition to first editions, fine binding, ephemera and a maze of general interest books. Minotavros Books is a bricks & Mortar Bookstore located in Whitby Ontario. On a journey of discovery, Minotavros Books has been helping people find and procure books for collectors, institutions, and booklovers all over the world. Reading is an adventure. What page will you turn next? Hours and LocationMinotavros Books is open by appointment only. You are encouraged to phone or text 905-424-2641 or email info@minotavrosbooks.com to arrange a time to peruse our shop or pick up an order.
We are located at 10 Sunray St., Suite 4, Whitby, Ontario, across from Landmark Cinema's 24.
We are located at 10 Sunray St., Suite 4, Whitby, Ontario, across from Landmark Cinema's 24.
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- 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....
- Jacket
- Sometimes used as another term for dust jacket, a protective and often decorative wrapper, usually made of paper which wraps...
- Cocked
- Refers to a state where the spine of a book is lightly "twisted" in such a way that the front and rear boards of a book do not...
- Blurb
- The blurb refers to the commentary that appears on the dust jacket flaps or the rear of the dustjacket. In the case of a...
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