A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
Summary
A monument to sloth, rant and contempt, a behemoth of fat, flatulence and furious suspicion of anything modern - this is Ignatius J. Reilly of New Orleans, noble crusader against a world of dunces. The ordinary folk of New Orleans seem to think he is unhinged. Ignatius ignores them, heaving 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.
Book Setting: New Orleans
D.H. Holmes Department Store: The story begins, Ignatius was almost arrested.
Pennyland Arcade: Ignatius’ favorite baseball game resided. Penny Arcade closed in early 2000s.
St. Charles Avenue: Patrolman Manusco thought this street was one of the loveliest places in the world.
Constantinople Street: The street where Ignatius Reilly’s house was located which Ignatus thought a “poor but honest neighborhood showing signs of crumble and decay.” Today’s Constantinople Street looks very different.
Prytania Theater: One of Ignatius’ favorite places to go, always disappointed and offended at the shows.
Fazzio’s Bowling: Despite Irene’s enjoyment in bowling, Ignatius disapproved. “You can’t bowl. You have arthritis or something. This is ridiculous!” “This is the most absurd thing you’ve ever done.”
Greyhound Bus Station: Patrolman Mancuso was stationed in the restroom 8 hours a day until he caught a fugitive.
Ead’s Plaza (Spanish Plaza): Ignatius spent a long day of “work” enjoying Ead’s plaza.
Pirate’s Alley: Ignatius has a run in with the Ladies Art Guild hanging pictures on a fence. After looking at the paintings he exclaimed “how dare you present such abortions to the public” “First you must learn to handle a brush. I would suggest that you all get together and paint someone’s house for a start.”
Haydel’s Bakery: Irene Reilly would bring Ignatius doughnuts and cakes to “feed his expanding stomach”.
Reviews
“A corker, an epic comedy, a rumbling, roaring avalanche of a book”
-The Washington Post
“A masterwork of comedy…The novel astonishes with its inventiveness, it lives in the play of its voices. A Confederacy of Dunces is nothing less than a grand comic fugue.”
-The New Your Times Book Review
“The dialogue is superbly mad. You simply sweep along, unbelievably entranced.”
-The Boston Globe
“A Confederacy of Dunces has been reviewed almost everywhere, and every reviewer has loved it. For once, everyone is right.”
-The Rolling Stone