A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

A Confederacy of Dunces

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.

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Book Setting: New Orleans

  1. D.H. Holmes Department Store: The story begins, Ignatius was almost arrested.  

  2. Pennyland Arcade: Ignatius’ favorite baseball game resided.  Penny Arcade closed in early 2000s. 

  3. St. Charles Avenue: Patrolman Manusco thought this street was one of the loveliest places in the world.

  4. 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.

  5. Prytania Theater: One of Ignatius’ favorite places to go, always disappointed and offended at the shows. 

  6. 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.” 

  7. Greyhound Bus Station: Patrolman Mancuso was stationed in the restroom 8 hours a day until he caught a fugitive.

  8. Ead’s Plaza (Spanish Plaza): Ignatius spent a long day of “work” enjoying Ead’s plaza.

  9. 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.”

  10. 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