The Flaming Corsage (Magill’s Survey of American Literature, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: William Kennedy
- First Published: 1996
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction
- Subjects: Family or family life, Class conflict, Suicide, Murder or homicide, Authors or writers, Marriage, Ethnic relations, Adultery
- Locales: Albany, NY
The Flaming Corsage begins with the “Love Nest Killings of 1908.” A cuckolded husband enters a Manhattan hotel suite; shoots his wife through the heart, killing her; fires two shots at Edward Daugherty, the novel's protagonist, hitting him with one; sends Daugherty's mistress scampering into the bedroom to hide; and kills himself by putting the revolver under his chin and pulling the trigger. Our initial reaction is that William Kennedy has left Albany behind and opted instead to tell a story that takes place in the more famous neighboring city to the south. After this brief...
[The entire page is 723 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
