An Albany Trio

I first read these books shortly after they were published. Now, decades later, I've read them again. They are every bit as good as I remember. Maybe better. They roar and flash and crash along like cars in a rickety old roller coaster, the kind you ride on a dare and keep expecting to derail at any moment. The test of any novel is whether the characters seem to go on living when you shut the book. The characters in these novels are life-size technicolor 3D walking talking people, some of whom you wouldn't want to meet in a dark bar. But after you've read this book you'll find yourself looking for them when you go out at night.

In the author's "Prelude in a Saloon," published as the preface of this trilogy, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist William Kennedy portrays himself as Daniel Quinn, nephew of Billy Phelan (of Billy Phelan's Greatest Game) and grandson of Francis Phelan (of Ironweed), as he begins an interview with an old gangster who worked closely with Jack "Legs" Diamond (of Legs). With tongue-in-cheek humor, Quinn/Kennedy reveals how his writing career began and how he came to know the main characters of this trio of books set in Depression-era Albany, New York. Legs, set in 1930 - 1931, is a fictional biography of Jack "Legs" Diamond, thief/bootlegger/murderer, a man who lived the high life and who double-crossed and cheated his way to success, controlling speakeasies, illegal alcohol, real estate, and gambling, a man who survived eleven bullets in three separate assassination attempts before finally being brought down. An uncomplicated but well-written and often violent novel, Legs sets the scene for Billy Phelan's Greatest Game and Ironweed, both set in 1938. (4 stars) Billy Phelan's Greatest Game is far more sophisticated, with more fully drawn characters, well-developed suspense, and themes dealing with fathers and sons and their values--intergenerational problems which reveal the changing morality of Depression-era Albany. Billy Phelan, part-time bookie and small-time card player and gambler is asked to monitor the activities of one of his fellow-card players, suspected of involvement in the kidnapping of Charlie MacCall, son and nephew of the two men running the political machine of Albany. Remaining true to his own values, Billy is surprised when his father Francis Phelan, who has just reappeared after abandoning the family twenty-two years before, suggests cooperating. (5 stars) Ironweed is the Pulitzer-Prize-winning culmination of the trio, the story of Francis Phelan, an emotionally gripping novel about down-and-out "bums" and the people with whom they come into contact, which tears at the heart without being sentimental. Hard-edged and sometimes violent, this novel is a fully developed, moving, and insightful look at those who live apart from society because their dreams have died. (5 BIG stars) Fully absorbing, whether you are just looking for good reading or are a student of writing, these three novels include many overlapping characters and a clear sense of time, place, and society. They are exciting and filled with important observations about life without being moralistic, and the dialogue and level of detail are often breath-taking. They are also an opportunity to see in successive novels, the development of one of the great writing talents of the twentieth century, with each novel more complex and fully developed than the previous one. Outstanding! n Mary Whipple

I've read these three novels separately over the years and was happy to see them all neatly packaged in one volume. I couldn't resist the temptation. I hope a second volume which includes the next 3 novels will be out soon. Kennedy is the Faulkner of Albany. His wonderful set of characters, rich language and compelling story line will endear most anyone to this family saga of growing up in Depression-era Albany. Kennedy focuses on those little items that give the city its richness, and his characters have that sense of noble purpose which carries them through such hard times.

Read these books and learn about life, love, and loss. Everything you need to know about everything is written right here. Read Kennedy and become enlightened. This is the best literature has to offer.