A Confederacy of Dunces

A Confederacy of Dunces is a picaresque novel by American novelist John Kennedy Toole which reached publication in 1980. It took eleven years after Toole's suicide to find an audience. Toole's mother brought the work to Walker Percy and then he to his publisher. The book became first a cult classic, then a mainstream success. A Confederacy of Dunces earned Toole a posthumous Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981.

The novel chronicles Ignatius' misadventures as he navigates the colorful and diverse characters of New Orleans. A disastrous job interview and a confrontation with the police force Ignatius to find real work as a hotdog vendor. He continues to encounter a variety of eccentric individuals. They each have their quirks and follies.

Among the characters Ignatius interacts with are his co-workers at the pants factory. Among them is the opportunistic and conniving Lana Lee, and her hapless husband, Dorian Greene. Ignatius also becomes entangled with the bohemian and rebellious Darlene. Darlene is a stripper at a local club, and her former lover, Burma Jones, is a Black street vendor.

As A Confederacy of Dunces progresses, Ignatius' exaggerated sense of self-importance clashes with the realities of his life. He finds himself in more and more absurd situations. Comedic misunderstandings, mishaps, and the ironies of Ignatius' actions propel the narrative.

Through Ignatius' character, Toole satirizes various aspects of society, including consumerism, politics, academia, and cultural norms. The novel explores themes of identity, conformity, and the clash between individuality and societal expectations. Ignatius becomes a symbol of resistance to the perceived mediocrity and conformity of the modern world.

Sharp wit, vivid descriptions, and richly developed characters are characteristics of Toole's writing style. He creates a vibrant and chaotic world that mirrors the idiosyncrasies of New Orleans itself.