John Kennedy Toole’s hillariously funny, madcap adventure planted in New Orleans.
I was resently given this by a collegue and I almost died laughing…But after I finished the work, a friend informed me that the book was published after the author died. Is this true. Does anyone have the dope on this? Did in fact the authors mother publish it?? Whats say ye teeming millions?
The introduction to the copy I have, written by the professor, I believe, who saw to it that the book was published, says it is so. In fact, in 1981 Toole was awarded the Pulitzer for fiction for this book, posthumously. He commited suicide.
I have found for you Walker Percy’s Foreword to A Confederacy of Dunces. Warning: this page is black with white type. Yeow! My eyes.
It was a pretty simple search! Don’t forget to try Google, the best lil search engine out there! 
oh, my valve!
Heh, this book does pretty much rule. If you like this book, you have to read Handling Sin by Michael Malone. I thik I may like Handling Sin more than I like ACOD. It’s a tad slow in the beginning, but once it gets going it is a damn riot.
I’d love to see a movie made of this book. Who do you think could play Ignatius? I tend to favor the actor who played Newman on Seinfeld, but I don’t know his name.
Newman was played by Wayne Knight (who’s apparently in everything from Jurassic Park to Space Jam)
Toole finished the book in’69, couldn’t find a publisher who’d take it and killed himself. His mother tirelessly hawked the book for 10 years until she latched on to Walker Percy, who actually agreed to read it, loved it and got it published by LSU press, where it became the famous book it is today. Tragic story.
Mundane trivia - the first edition of the book is considered one of the most desireable of the 1980’s - it was a very small printing (some say less than 1,000) from an obscure publisher, yet the book went onto do very very well. First editions these days are going for $1,500 - 3,000 bucks. Not chump change.
I think John Goodman could do a good Ignatius.
mouthbreather
I think John Goodman would make a wonderful Ignacious. However, Good man does not have the Aristocratic-Gentlemanly-Sot-ish aspect about him. I would think a well placed Robin Williams could do the trick. He would have to put a few pounds on, but I think his acting acumen would place him perfectly.
**wordman]/b]
I have been collecting books for a long while, mostly antiquated, and first editions. A ‘Confederacy of Dunces’ would be a prize I would love to have grace my shelves.
Actually, I know someone who is selling on in Oregon. Its not pristine but it is a genuine first edition. She wants 800, and I personally do not want to spend that on something that may not be worth while. Having dealt with many book sellers and buyers, everyone has a differnet view on what is nice and what is crap.
Thanks though folks for a little history…I affectionately appreciate it.
Phlosphr - if you’re not sure “what is nice vs. crap” in terms of “is the book condition accurately described or could I end up with a chewed-up copy?” then you can ask pointed questions, and also determine if you can return the book if its not as advertized (as I am sure you know, most, if not all, dealers selling through the mail support returns in a reasonable timeframe after the sale)
If you aren’t sure that book will retain its value - the past 20 years since the book was published do suggest that it will remain a desireable book - it ain’t the Bridges of Madison County, which went up in value while on the best seller list only to crash when people realized it was crap. Dunces isn’t a beanie baby, either - it is a well-loved book that should have legs (in the spirit of full disclosure, I have a first edition that I bought years ago and so I am hoping it retains the appreciated value it has to date - but I bought it first off because it is a great book). If the book is in decent shape, it is worth $800 easily (Note: One dealer I know of says there are “states” to the first edition - it depends on whether the title is printed in lavender ink on the spine or front cover or something - I can’t remember the specifics, only that I went home and checked my copy and it was the earliest state this dealer described…)
NOW - if you don’t want to because you can’t fathom spending that much on a book - heck, that’s everybody’s right - more power to ya.
Take care - Scott
I agree, but I think that is only because of the roles that we’re used to seeing him in. I get the impression from some spots and interviews that he has very wide range of talent. I think he could pull it off.
Wordman Well first of all, Spending 800 on a book is not the fundemental issue here. I have spent upwards of 12-13 hundred on books in the past that I absolutely love. But I have always been very apprehensive about buying over the internet. Always apprehensive!
Most of the books I buy are through collectors and higher-end back alley book stores. I get to see those books in my hands, you know spend time with the book, research the particulars about it. But over the internet, rarely do you get to do anything like this.
I have asked pointed questions to the seller and she is very happy to answer them. I do get the gut feeling though that it is not of the first state, and has been treated a little chaudily. Thank you though for your literary concern.
Isn’t he too old? Well, maybe not.
Wayne Knight doesn’t really look like a New Orleans Catholic of Irish extraction. But god, his diction and imperious manners (at least as Newman) are perfect.
You are right about that, but he seems to short and … well, just to small to pull it off.
I always pictured Ignatius as a towering fatass. (Of course, I haven’t read the book in many years, he very well might be described as being short and I don’t remember it)
I’m still working on financing though.
Ignatius was pretty tall in the book, well over 6’ if I recall correctly. Though he’s technically too old, I think Goodman has about the right build for the character.
Janeane Garofalo would be perfect as the girl he ends up running away with…was her name Myrna? I keep thinking Myrna Mink, but I think that the Mink part was a disdainful nickname that Ignatius made up for her.