You Know Me Al (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Ring Lardner
- First Published: 1916
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Satire
- Time of Work: c. 1915
- Setting: Chicago
- Principal Characters: Jack Keefe, Al Blanchard, Florrie, Allen, Marie
- Genres: Long fiction, Satire, Epistolary literature
- Subjects: Parents and children, Marriage, Friendship, 1910’s, Chicago, Fathers, Self-confidence, Baseball, Braggarts
- Locales: Chicago, IL
The Story:
When Jack Keefe, a pitcher, was brought up from the minor leagues by the Chicago White Sox, he began writing a series of letters to his hometown friend, Al. It was a peculiar friendship, however, for Jack was basically incapable of any of the emotions real friendship requires. He patronized Al and used him. Jack was a braggart and a chronic self-excuser, and the letters gave him a chance to exercise his ego. Al apparently never saw through Jack.
So sublimely self-confident that he felt every trifling detail of his life was important, Jack wrote full accounts...
[The entire page is 2245 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
