Midweek Story - A Confederacy Of Dunces
Today’s story is the masterpiece by John Kennedy Toole. It’s hilarious, deep, political, it has great characters, brilliant dialogue and it’s set in New Orleans in the early 1960’s. For two of those points alone it would be worth reading, but when you throw them together? Look out.
You can buy it here in the UK and here in the US. Look it up - even the story of how it eventually came to be published is worth a book in itself.
I used to live in New Orleans and for that reason I could not resist doing the accent for a couple of characters - the temptation was too great and something tells me I should have paid self-consciousness considerably more mind. A New Orleanean accent, by the way, is not a Southern accent. It’s closer to Long Island than Mississippi, as the story explains. Kevin Costner in JFK and Doctor John have it. Matthew McConaughey does not. That said, I am really truly sorry for anyone who takes affront at my misguided intonations.
I’ve no idea why Ignatious sounds like the baby in Family Guy, but he’s got that indignant patronising tone that seemed to fit right.
If I won the lottery I would, as well as doing that billboard thing, get this made into a film. Many have tried and all have failed, but one day I’m sure this will be a movie.
This is probably the second to last one of these I’ll do, because it hasn’t been one of my best ideas, but I did promise I’d do four of these, so I’ll carry that out.
Listen: Confederacy Of Dunces
July 25th, 2007 at 9:40 am
A British guy (by way of PA and LA) apologises about intonations?
Really, you shouldn’t.
It makes it worth listening to.
July 25th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Hello! Here via Katy and just wanted to say yes! Ignatius! such a good character. Particularly like the image of him in his smock. So foul, and yet so very very right.
July 25th, 2007 at 9:56 am
Thanks Kim - Cheers for the comment!
KW - He’s great isn’t he? He reminds me of Falstaff. Thanks for coming over.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:03 am
There are no r’s and many h’s even in King’s English.
Don’t try to pass.
Stripehhhs, beahhhhs, customahs,mothehhh.
Know it’s not about the accents…I listened to the storeh.
July 25th, 2007 at 10:59 am
“a tub of bahlin’ wateh”
I love they way they say “oil”, like “ahl”
July 25th, 2007 at 2:27 pm
“What do you think it is stupid? It’s a string for my lute.”
Loved it, thank you Cliff for taking the time and making the effort. I hope you don’t stop at 4.
July 25th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Nice, Cliff. I hope you carry on with these.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Yes, do carry on with these. And after hearing your voice, I have a favor to ask (no, not that.) We really need you to record the voicemail greeting for our company. Seriously.
July 25th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Oh god - I’d love to, Dawn. Seriously? Mail my people. (I am my people.)
July 25th, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Wendy and Emom - thanks for the continued encouragement.
It means a heap which I sometimes take for granted because near the tippytop of my long list of faults is my blind ignorance at how to respond to genuine compliments. That should never reflect on my gratitude for your loyal support nor my admiration to you for reading this.
I can’t stress enough (without sounding like a complete self-absorbed lunatic) the esteem in which I hold your custom.
July 26th, 2007 at 4:15 am
Can’t listen where I’m at, for whatever reason. But what a great work of comedy COD is. And what a sad, sad story behind it.