Quinn’s Book (Magill Book Reviews)
At a glance:
- Author: William Kennedy
- First Published: 1988
- Type of Work: Novel
- Genres: Long fiction, Historical fiction
- Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, New York, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Journalism or journalists, Authors or writers, Nineteenth century, Writing
- Locales: New York, NY, Saratoga, NY, Albany, NY
It is difficult to determine exactly what William Kennedy had in mind in writing this book. Kennedy, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of IRONWEED and other books set in the Albany area, is a talented, often dazzling writer of stories which, though based in a very carefully depicted reality, often soar off into regions of dream or hallucination or fantasy. In his best works, this technique can be fascinating, and for the first part of QUINN’S BOOK, he succeeds in spinning a mixture of local myth and tall tale and factual history that is masterful in its rendition. After that inspired beginning, however, Kennedy’s story becomes fragmented. Characters come and go; plot lines are dropped; and there is simply no satisfying resolution to the tale.
The story is told, at first, from the viewpoint of Daniel Quinn himself, although Kennedy shifts without apparent reason to third-person narration at various times throughout the book. Quinn’s motivating obsession is his love for the young Maud Fallon, the bewitching niece of a famous actress. Maud disappears for years at a time while Daniel grows into manhood, sustained by his desire and adoration. Maud, however, hardly seems worth Daniel’s desire. Rather, she comes across as a petulant, self-absorbed, silly girl. Other characters are much more interesting, although none, with the exception of Daniel himself, is fully developed.
QUINN’S BOOK has the quality of a literary joke, an extended--and largely enjoyable--prank. In it Kennedy continues his examination of the Irish in America and expands his portrait of Albany, New York, through the generations. There is, however, ultimately more show than substance to his story, and readers, who will be pleased with sections of the tale, are likely to be disappointed with the whole.
Sources for Further Study
Booklist. LXXXIV, February 1, 1988, p. 889.
Chicago Tribune. May 8, 1988, XIV, p. 1.
Commonweal. CXV, May 20, 1988, p. 308.
Los Angeles Times Book Review. May 22, 1988, p. 3.
Maclean's. CI, May 23, 1988, p. 49.
National Review. XL, August 19, 1988, p. 46.
The New Republic. CXCVIII, June 27, 1988, p. 41.
The New York Times Book Review. XCIII, May 22, 1988, p. 1.
Newsweek. CXI, May 9, 1988, p. 72A.
Publishers Weekly. CCXXXIII, March 18, 1988, p. 71.
Time. CXXXI, May 16, 1988, p. 92.
The Times Literary Supplement. June 17, 1988, p. 680.
The Wall Street Journal. CCXI, May 18, 1988, p. 28.
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