Roscoe - Hardcover
From the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of Ironweed and Legs, Roscoe is a comic journey into the dark heart of America's postwar Democratic dream.; It's V-J Day, World War II is finally over, and Roscoe is quitting politics after twenty-six years as chief brainstruster of Albany's notorious Democratic machine. The suave, brilliant, unscrupulous Falstaffian wants to hang up his white double-breasted Palm Beach suit and drift into retirement. But how will he relax his hold on the lid without the political pot boiling over, scalding his beloved and her family? Armed with the politician's most powerful credo - 'Righteousness doesn't stand a chance against the imagination' - Roscoe fights his final political battles. Every step forward leads Roscoe into the past - to the early loss of his true love, to his own particular heroics in World War I, the takeover of City Hall and the methodical assassination of the gangster Jack 'Legs' Diamond. Roscoe is a comic masterpiece from one of America's most revered novelists.
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Review:
Insubstantial but charming, William Kennedy's Roscoe seems to unintentionally resemble many of the politicians it depicts. The seventh novel in Kennedy's Albany series, Roscoe follows Roscoe Conway, a quick-witted, charismatic lawyer-politician who has devoted much of his life to helping his Democratic Party cohorts achieve and maintain political power in 1930s and ‘40s Albany, New York. It's 1945, and Roscoe has decided to retire from politics, but a series of deaths and scandals forces him to stay and confront his past. Kennedy takes the reader on an intricate, whirlwind tour of (mostly) fictional Albany in the first half of the 20th century. He presents a mythologized, tabloid version of history, leaving no stone unturned: a multitude of gangsters, bookies, thieves, and hookers mingle with politicians, cops, and lawyers. In the middle of it all is Roscoe, the kind of behind-the-scenes, wisecracking, truth-bending man of the people who makes everything happen--or at least it's fun to think so. Kennedy shows an obvious affection for his book's colorful characters and historic Albany, and he describes both with loving specificity. Though the book often works as light comedy, its clichéd plot developments and stereotypical characters undermine its serious concerns with truth, history, and honor. "You've never met a politician like Roscoe Conway," promises the book's jacket blurb. But we have, through his different roles in countless films and TV series. As with its notoriously deceitful hero, Roscoe is likeable as long as you don't take it too seriously. --Ross Doll
About the Author:
William Kennedy was born and raised in Albany, New York. His Albany Cycle of novels, also available in Scribner, is recognised as one of the great achievements of postwar American literature, and includes Legs, Billy Phelan's Greatest Game, Ironweed, Very Old Bones, Quinn's Book and the Flaming Corsage.
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- PublisherScribner
- Publication date2002
- ISBN 10 0743220730
- ISBN 13 9780743220736
- BindingHardcover
- Number of pages376
- Rating
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Roscoe
Published by
Simon & Schuster Ltd, United Kingdom, London
(2002)
ISBN 10: 0743220730
ISBN 13: 9780743220736
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. From the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of IRONWEED and LEGS, ROSCOE is a comic journey into the dark heart of America's postwar democratic dream. It's V-J Day, World War II is finally over, and Roscoe is quitting politics after twenty-six years as chief brainstruster of Albany's notorious Democratic machine. The suave, brilliant, unscrupulous Falstaffian wants to hang up his white double-breasted Palm Beach suit and drift into retirement. But how will he relax his hold on the lid without the political pot boiling over, scalding his beloved and her family? Armed with the politician's most powerful credo - 'Righteousness doesn't stand a chance against the imagination' - Roscoe fights his final political battles. Every step forward leads Roscoe into the past - to the early loss of his true love, to his own particular heroics in World War I, the takeover of City Hall and the methodical assassination of the gangster Jack 'Legs' Diamond. ROSCOE is a comic masterpiece from one of America's most revered novelists. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR004375495
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Roscoe This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 7719-9780743220736
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780743220736
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Book Description Condition: Very Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # 38657554-20
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Roscoe
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. Hardcover. Signed by author on title page. Light bump on jacket spine head. Binding is intact, contents are clean and clear. AM. By Author. Used. Seller Inventory # 408400
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. ALL ITEMS ARE DISPATCHED FROM THE UK WITHIN 48 HOURS ( BOOKS ORDERED OVER THE WEEKEND DISPATCHED ON MONDAY) ALL OVERSEAS ORDERS SENT BY TRACKABLE AIR MAIL. IF YOU ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UK PLEASE ASK US FOR A POSTAGE QUOTE FOR MULTI VOLUME SETS BEFORE ORDERING. Seller Inventory # mon0000757501
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Book Description Paperback. Condition: Fine. First Edition. prepublication edition. minor usage wear. all pages are clean and soundly bound. [SK]. Our orders are shipped using tracked courier delivery services. Seller Inventory # 19wo
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Roscoe
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ISBN 10: 0743220730
ISBN 13: 9780743220736
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Good (ex-library). Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. Hardcover. 376 pages. *** PUBLISHING DETAILS: Simon & Schuster, 2002. First Edition. *** CONDITION: The book itself is in good (ex-library) condition and comes in near fine dust jacket. More specifically: Text and spine/cover marked with Library stamps, in all other respects in very good condition throughout. Boards have no wear, rubbing or soiling. Spine has minor lean. Edges of dust jacket have light bumping. Dust jacket is unclipped. Dust jacket is protected in clear, plastic sleeve. Edges of pages are lightly browned. *** ABOUT THIS BOOK: From the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of IRONWEED and LEGS, ROSCOE is a comic journey into the dark heart of America's postwar democratic dream. It's V-J Day, World War II is finally over, and Roscoe is quitting politics after twenty-six years as chief brainstruster of Albany's notorious Democratic machine. The suave, brilliant, unscrupulous Falstaffian wants to hang up his white double-breasted Palm Beach suit and drift into retirement. But how will he relax his hold on the lid without the political pot boiling over, scalding his beloved and her family? Armed with the politician's most powerful credo - 'Righteousness doesn't stand a chance against the imagination' - Roscoe fights his final political battles. Every step forward leads Roscoe into the past - to the early loss of his true love, to his own particular heroics in World War I, the takeover of City Hall and the methodical assassination of the gangster Jack 'Legs' Diamond. ROSCOE is a comic masterpiece from one of America's most revered novelists. *** Quantity Available: 1. Category: Fiction; General; ISBN: 0743220730. ISBN/EAN: 9780743220736. Inventory No: 20070178. Seller Inventory # 20070178
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Roscoe
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ISBN 13: 9780743220736
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: GOOD. 1st Edition. 2002. Scribner. Hardcover. GOOD First Edition. Signed by author. DJ Good. Good clean copy. 9x6. Seller Inventory # 2067315
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: Very Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Fine. First British Edition. Very fine, unread copy in VF dustjacket. | Albany Cycle, vol. 7. Seller Inventory # 006773
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