Has there ever been a character quite like Ignatius J. Reilly, the self-righteous, gas-expelling, medieval philosophy-spouting, hot dog-chomping protagonist of “A Confederacy of Dunces”? In his mad quest, waged from his mother’s house, against the indignities and inappropriateness of modern life, Reilly is no hero. Not even an antihero. He’s like an anti-antihero.
The story behind “A Confederacy of Dunces” is as remarkable as the book itself. Toole committed suicide without ever seeing his novel published. After his death, Toole’s mother spent years trying to convince publishers to look at the book. Eventually, she convinced a beleaguered novelist, Walker Percy, who figured he could dismiss it after a page or two. He was instead shocked at the quality and helped get the book to print. In 1981 it won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction.
“A Confederacy of Dunces” is the only book I have immediately begun reading again after I had first finished. It’s not without its flaws, but I really think these only add to its immense charm.
You can find previous editions of The Read in our archive. For more on literature, art, food, wine, and a real perspective on the news these things seem to make, follow our Arts & Culture Correspondent Ben on Twitter.
"I like turtles." (on swim trunks.)
In person with the under $70, retro-upper meets future-sole lifestyle sneaker.
A step up from the pajama pants you wore to those 9am western civ lectures...…
Breezy and lightweight. Sold as separates, and the blazers do great with chinos or jeans.…
For when the weather gets good, and stops being so (wait for it) BAAAAAAAAAAAaaaa-d.
One day only. Sneaky snail mail deal + St. Patrick's Day = an extra 33.6%…