Ironweed is a novel written by william kennedy, released in 1983. All content included on our site, such as text, images, digital downloads and other, is the property of its content suppliers and protected by us and international laws. Sad and gritty look at lifes losers during the later years of the depression. Ironweed, any of about 500 species of perennial plants constituting the genus vernonia of the family asteraceae. Members of the genus have lanceshaped, toothed leaves. Folio book composed of sheets that are folded once and printed on both sides, making two leaves and four pages. It is a one of kennedys albany cycle of novels, each concerning the city of albany, new york and many involving the phelan family. Ironweed free pdf, doc, fb3, rtf free download ebook.
As i expected, the movie paled in comparison to the book, despite the screenplay being written by kennedy himself. And finally, after one more binge and another killing in shantytown, francis, to the tune of the moon and an empty whiskey bottle, goes to the holy phelan caves. In this third novel in kennedys depressionalbany series, the focus is on aging, bumming francis phelan, sire of smalltown gambler billy billy phelans greatest came, 1978. Named for its tough stem, ironweed has excellent posture and never slouches in the garden. Ironweed by william kennedy chapter 2 summary and analysis.
Ironweed 1983 billy phelans father, francis, a derelict on the run from his own demons and past mistakes, is the principal character of ironweed, a winner of the pulitzer prize and national book critics circle award for fiction. Features numerous tiny, fluffy, deep purple, composite flowers rays absent in loose, 34 wide, terminal clusters cymes atop stiff. Although his three previous novels had been highly praised, eleven major publishing companies rejected ironweed. Ironweed is dim, grim, and relentlessly depressing.
Ironweed is an unusual novel which william kennedy found difficult to get published. It attracts late season butterlies and monarchs and an excellent source of seeds for birds in the wildlife garden. Ironweed comparison ironweed is the remarkable story of francis phelan, once a talented baseball player, husband and father of three, who has fallen so far from grace that his home for the past twentytwo years has been the street. It has enough drama to satisfy any reader of perhaps ten upwards, giving a vivid idea of that faroff time when bombs fell on england. The story concerns the relationship of a homeless couple. Ironweed is the remarkable story of francis phelan, once a talented major league baseball player, husband, and father of three, who has fallen so far from grace that his home for the past twentytwo years has been the street. It is a one of kennedys albany cycle of novels, each concerning the city of albany, new. Oct 24, 2015 ironweed by william kennedy in doc, fb3, rtf download e book. It is native from ohio to north dakota south to missouri, oklahoma and texas. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer no kindle device required. This stately plant offers a large cluster of unusually brilliant purple flowers on top of 6 tall, unbranched stems. Since that time, phelan has been a shabby barfly, living from drink to drink.
Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Vernonia fasciculata is commonly called smooth ironweed because its leaves, stems and flower heads are distinctively glabrous. In missouri, it typically occurs in low moist prairies and in swampy river bottom meadows north of the missouri river and in the western part of the state. This will help prevent moisture loss and provide protection.
Ironweed by william kennedy meet your next favorite book. In a 1992 interview with kennedy, former director of the new york state writers institute, the late tom smith, characterized francis as one of the gigantic. This novella was first published in 1969 and tells the story of two 15yearold runaways, bill and julie, during the second world war. Heartbreaking performances from jack nicholson and meryl streep lie at the core of this deeply moving adaptation of william kennedys pulitzer prizewinning novel. It is included in the western canon of the critic harold bloom. This study guide consists of approximately 49 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of ironweed. Written by william kennedy, based on his novel of the same name. Ironweed is a 1988 american drama film directed by hector babenco. Oblong folios are produced the same way but bound at the short edge, producing a book typically more than 14 inches deep. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Francis phelan, haunted by ghosts from his past, returns home after twentytwo. This 36page guide for ironweed by william kennedy includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 7 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. An alcoholic drifter spends halloween in his home town of albany, new york after returning there for the first time in decades. The flowers of ironweed are like crimson torches in the late summer prairie.
Ironweed has won both the pulitzer prize and the national book critics circle award for fiction, and is listed among modern librarys 100 best fiction books of the twentieth century. The description of life in the bombed out streets and collapsing buildings is vividly done, and there is considerable excitement in the childrens constant attempts to avoid the authorities. Set in albany, new york, in 1938, it also flashes back to 1916 and 1901 as it seeks to establish jack nicholsons character, francis phelan, an. Named for its tough stem, ironweed has excellent posture and never slouches in the garden making it an excellent high border garden plant. I took interest in this book after reading that it was one of hunter s. Kennedy was the latest selection for a book club ive recently joined. Provide organic compost in the spring and a layer of mulch. She was a singer on the radio, he a major league pitcher. All this time he has been tramping around the country, and.
In it, kennedy tells the story of a bum who was once a well liked ballplayer and family man but lost i made a decision a few weeks ago that i would read all the pulitzer prize winners for fiction, beginning in the year i was born 1984 and continuing through the present. Ironweed is set during the great depression and tells the story of francis phelan, an alcoholic vagrant originally from albany, new york, who left his family after accidentally killing his infant son while he may have been drunk. Francis phelan and helen archer are bums, back in their birth city. Latest headlines joker narrowly holds off maleficent to return to the weekends top spot. Lady bird johnson wildflower center focused on protecting and preserving north americas native plants through native plant lists and image galleries, conservation, education, natural landscapes, seed collection millennium seed bank msb project, preserving and restoring native communities, spreading awareness on invasive species and gardening to attract wildlife.
Ironweed is set during the great depression and tells the story of francis phelan, an alcoholic vagrant originally from. When they went back to see the ghetto people were running every were and getting. Francis phelan returned to albany twenty two years after leaving his family to go on the run because he killed a strike breaker with a rock. It received the 1984 pulitzer prize for fiction and is the third book in kennedys albany cycle.
Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. At first we cannot quite make out his face, and when we can and see that the character is played by jack nicholson, there is a shock, for even in that first moment he seems to have been enveloped by the character. Fireweed is the story of two children living under the radar on the streets of london during the blitz of 1940. An excellent addition to the pollinator garden, ironweed is a host plant for the american painted lady butterfly. Plot line for milkweed by julia berube falling action climax misha and janina ran away from the ghetto because the trains were coming to take them some were so they lived on the streets for a while. Jack nicholson plays francis phelan, a washedup ballplayer a onetime infielder for the. Ironweed 1987 hector babenco synopsis, characteristics. English and literature submitted by ljmoreno words 638 pages 3. Ironweed 1983billy phelans father, francis, a derelict on the run from his own demons and past mistakes, is the principal character of ironweed, a winner of the pulitzer prize and national book critics circle award for fiction. It stars jack nicholson and meryl streep, with carroll baker, michael okeefe, diane venora, fred gwynne, nathan lane and tom waits in supporting roles. The flowers of ironweed are a rare color in the late summer landscape, and the brilliant purplecrimson bloom is very attractive to butterflies. Ironweed opens in a graveyard in albany, new york, as francis phelan, kennedys boxcar ulysses, returns to the city of his birth and early manhood, for. On aug 9, 2015, rickwebb from downingtown, pa wrote.
The novel focuses on franciss return to albany, and the narrative is complicated by phelans. Thompsons favorites, along with kennedy being one of thompsons longtime correspondents. It has enough drama to satisfy any reader of perhaps ten upwards, giving a. Author william kennedy takes us into the mind and heart of a homeless vagrant and explores the situations which have. Fireweed by jill paton walsh meet your next favorite book. Common ironweed vernonia fasciculata is usually referred to simply as ironweed.
The premise of the club is to read a novel and then view the movie at the group meeting that was based on the novel. The viking press finally agreed to publish ironweed in 1983 along with kennedys two previous novels, which are, like ironweed, set in albany, new. It won the pulitzer in 1984 beating out cathedral by raymond carver and the feud by thomas berger, neither of which i have read yet. Ironweed by william kennedy in doc, fb3, rtf download ebook. Lady bird johnson wildflower center the university of. Ironweed takes place in albany over two days and two. Vernonia noveboracensis, commonly called ironweed or new york ironweed, is a tall, coarse, upright perennial which typically occurs in the wild in moist thickets, low areas and along streambanks from massachusetts to mississippi. Ironweed is the third book of william kennedys albany series which focuses on the character francis phelan, father of the protagonist of his previous book billy phelans greatest game and referring at times to events in the first book of this series, legs.
Jack nicholson plays francis phelan, a washedup ballplayer a onetime infielder for the washington senators who deserted his family back in the 1910s when he accidentally killed his infant son by dropping him. In a 1992 interview with kennedy, former director of the new york state writers institute, the late tom smith. All this time he has been tramping around the country, and now back home, he begins to take stock of his past life and come to terms with his family. No other special care is required for this lovely and hardy butterfly magnet. Based on the william kennedy novel of the same name ironweed is set in the waning years of the depression. Vernonia ironweed care is not difficult once you find the best location for your plant. Ironweed, as you may have figured out, was the 1984 winner. Ironweed is a 1987 film about a schizophrenic drifter who spends halloween in his home town after returning there for the first time in decades. Set during an autumn weekend in the great depression, ironweed tells the story of francis phelan nicholson, a former baseball player. Vernonia fasciculata common ironweed prairie moon nursery. Overview of ironweed, 1987, directed by hector babenco, with meryl streep, jack nicholson, diane venora, at turner classic movies. Still, ironweed is a separate novel and need not be read in connection with its predecessors, although such knowledge does enhance the book. Vernonia species, new york ironweed, veinleaf hawkweed. Financial analysis of ironweed 1987 including budget, domestic and international box office gross, dvd and bluray sales reports, total earnings and profitability.