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A Confederacy of Dunces (Penguin Red Classics)
 
 
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A Confederacy of Dunces (Penguin Red Classics) (Paperback)

by John Kennedy Toole (Author)
4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
RRP: £8.99
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Product details

  • Paperback: 448 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Classics (26 Jan 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0141023465
  • ISBN-13: 978-0141023465
  • Product Dimensions: 17.6 x 11.2 x 3.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 6,686 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in this category:

    #1 in  Books > Fiction > Authors, A-Z > T > Toole, John Kennedy

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Product Description

Product Description
The ordinary folk of New Orleans seem to think he is unhinged as well. Ignatius ignores them as he heaves his vast bulk through the city’s fleshpots in a noble crusade against vice, modernity and ignorance. But his momma has a nasty surprise in store for him. Ignatius must get a job. Undaunted, he uses his new-found employment to further his mission – and now he has a pirate costume and a hot-dog cart to do it with …

About the Author
John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969) After graduating from Tulane University, he received a master’s degree from Columbia University and taught at Hunter College, the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and Dominican College. Much of the first draft of Confederacy was written while he was in the army, stationed in Puerto Rico teaching English to new recruits.

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A Confederacy of Dunces (Penguin Red Classics)
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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (2)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (2)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.1 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the truly great southern American classics, 8 Nov 2007
By Seely Schmidt (Lincolnshire) - See all my reviews
This book made its way into my hands low some twenty years ago, and I've been touting it to my friends ever since. It is by no means a perfect book--what is? But it is extremely well crafted, funny, and also sad. One cannot but help see Ignatius as a sad Toole, with his failure or "perceived failure" that Toole must have experience, knowing he'd written such a great work of art, yet being rejected over and over by a publishing industry that was too busy making money. I only wonder what those who rejected him feel like now that the money is steadily rolling in. And stead it is and has been because this book just keeps on going, like the Energizer Bunny.

CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES made a splash when it first appeared on the scene, and still has a strong following. I'd put it in the same category as the novels ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST, KATZENJAMMER (by Mccrae), and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP.

Probably the centerpiece in this great work is Ignatius. We're giving just about every detail possibly on this guy, from what he's wearing to how he bathes himself, or not. His antics are endless and he is pathetic and funny at the same time. Were it not for his complete lack of self awareness, he'd truly be a tragic figure. His pith and wit make him comic and likable and we're drawn to him, if for no other fact than to find out what will happen.

This novel is on my list of great Southern literatre, right up there with Faulkner's AS I LAY DYING or Flagg's FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Truly a great work of art. Thank God it finally made it to a publisher.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Genius, 25 Jun 2007
One of the best books ever written, contrary to the idioacy sprayed forth by a preceeding "reviewer" of "questionable erudition". The characters are INTEGRATED in a stunning way, the different sets of INTERELATED people are charming, hilarious and well worth rooting for. Yes Ignatius is foolish, unreasonable, socio-self-righteous and treats his mother appallingly. That is the POINT. He makes any thoughtful reader ashamed of times when s/he did not appreciate one's parents.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Life-enriching, 14 Jun 2007
By R. Houghton (Languedoc) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I have enjoyed this book time and again over the last 25 years. I've bought a dozen copies during the last two decades, to replace unreturned loans to friends. I don't begrudge the loss in the least.
The book has given my friends and family new a verb "to ignatiate" i.e. to watch, read or listen to something with the sole aim of becoming exasperated and shouting back.
I have a suspicion that P.J.Chant (see the one star review)is the embodiment of Ignatius J. Just look at the language and the satisfied ignatiation in his rant.
This is one of the finest comic novels of the 20th Century. BUY IT AND PASS IT ON!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars 100 words on A Confederacy of Dunces
I finished this two weeks ago, and what do I remember of it? A well drawn, funny, original, loathsome, somehow-sympathetic protagonist. A vivid and varied supporting cast. Read more
Published 2 months ago by AJ

5.0 out of 5 stars Really a classic
I have just re-ordered this book after losing or more likely lending my last copy to someone. This is one of those books that you really have to read in your life. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Flapper

2.0 out of 5 stars Hard Work
I should have noted that this won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction + seen the Rolling Stone & New York Times raves. Read more
Published 3 months ago by emma_scriptwriter

2.0 out of 5 stars Don't get this joke.
I know people I respect who think this is a masterpiece, but I found it tiresome, trite, and obvious. Slapstick masquerading as art. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Ed D.

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this
Fantastic - evocative, inspiring and engaging. Great writing about a fantastic city - it puts me in mind of that great NOLA title by Richard Katrovas - Mystic Pig. Read more
Published 9 months ago by J. Gifford

5.0 out of 5 stars Erupting with laughter
John Kennedy O'Toole penned this book in the early 1960s and killed himself before that decade was out in despair at being unable to get it published. Read more
Published 11 months ago by apressello

1.0 out of 5 stars Over-Rated: A Confederacy of Dunces
Some of the characters and locations seem promising at first, but the book quickly establishes a laboured, unfunny style of intended humour. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Duncan

5.0 out of 5 stars wacky silly stuff, plus some wistfulness
A classic story that makes me a bit sad to think about considering that the author died young and by his own hand. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Paul J. Fitzgerald

5.0 out of 5 stars a classic. Ignore P.J Chants ramblings.
Quite simply, this is the best book ever written, up there with Vonnegut etc. I felt compelled to share this, mainly to counter the frankly baffling comments from 'P. J. Read more
Published on 19 May 2007 by Ben Tweddell

5.0 out of 5 stars Raw, brilliant and excoriatingly funny...a true work of genius.
One-book authors are rare. Harper Lee with "To Kill a Mockingbird" is probably the most famous. John Kennedy Toole deserves just as much recognition and fame for his one-book... Read more
Published on 2 Mar 2007 by Hanglemez Pallaccini

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