Set in mid-century New Orleans, the story follows Ignatius J. Reilly, a flatulent, overeducated misanthrope who lives with his mother. Ignatius spends his days filling Big Chief tablets with a sprawling indictment of the modern age, which he views as a lack of geometry and theology. After a series of domestic mishaps, he is forced to seek employment, leading to chaotic stints as a file clerk at Levy Pants and a hot dog vendor in the French Quarter. His rigid medieval values clash with a colorful cast of characters, including a resilient strip club worker and a bumbling policeman, as he attempts to organize a labor uprising.
This novel serves readers who appreciate dark satire and high-register linguistic absurdity. It appeals to those interested in the friction between intellectual isolation and the messy reality of urban life. The reader walks away with a vivid mental map of New Orleans backstreets and an understanding of how an unshakeable, eccentric worldview can turn mundane social interactions into farce. It is a study of a man who refuses to adapt to his surroundings, resulting in a comedy of stubbornness and social friction.
Deep and open-ended; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Deep Diver. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1980
- Language
- EN
