A Confederacy of Dunces

More about the book

Released by Louisiana State University Press in 1980, this book is a publishing phenomenon. After being rejected by numerous publishers and submitted by the author's mother following his suicide, it won the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for fiction. With nearly two million copies in print worldwide in eighteen languages, it is now available in a large print edition for the first time. The novel introduces one of the most memorable characters in American literature, Ignatius Reilly, described by Walker Percy as "slob extraordinaire, a mad Oliver Hardy, a fat Don Quixote, a perverse Thomas Aquinas rolled into one." Set in New Orleans, the narrative outswifts Swift, whose essay inspired the title. The vibrant characters, including Ignatius and his mother, Miss Trixie, Patrolman Mancuso, Darlene the Bourbon Street stripper, and Jones the jivecat, leave an indelible mark on the region and literature. This edition features an introduction by writer and New Orleans resident Andrei Codrescu, composed for the book's twentieth anniversary. The oversized type enhances readability, making it a delight for both first-time readers and longtime fans eager to revisit this modern classic.