A Confederacy of Valves
A Confederacy of Ileocoecal Valves (commonly known as A Confederacy of Valves) is a picaresque gastroenterology textbook by New Orleans gastroenterologist John Kennedy Toole.
Discussion
Published through the efforts of writer [REDACTED] (who also contributed an appendix) and [REDACTED]'s mother, El-Math, the book became first a cult classic among medical students, then a mainstream medical teaching school success; it earned [REDACTED] a [REDACTED] Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981, and is now considered a canonical work of gastroenterological literature of the Southern [REDACTED].
REILLY: Incidentally, Mr. Clyde, I shall be wearing this smock home to prove to my mother that I am employed. You see, she drinks rather heavily, and she needs reassurance that money from my labors will be forthcoming in order that her supply of spirits won't be cut off. My life *is* a rather grim one. One day I shall perhaps describe it to you in detail. For the moment, however, you must know a thing or two about my valve.
CLYDE: *Valve?*
REILLY: Yes.
In the News
A Confederacy of Lunches is a picaresque collection of essays by New Orleans food reviewer Ignatius J. Reilly.
A Field Guide to Edible Theropods is a book about preparing, cooking, serving, and eating various theropods.
A Confederacy of Dealers is a picaresque novel about Ignatius J. Reilly, an educated but slothful 30-year-old man who, in his quest for employment, has various adventures selling marijuana to colorful French Quarter characters.
Development hell (nonfiction)
"Confederacy" has a development hell history without any help from me.
Belushi was slated to play Ignatius. He died.
John Candy. He died.
Chris Farley. Died.
Divine. Died.
Will Farrell. Survived, but the film never got made.
- Post @ Twitter (12 October 2023)
Fiction cross-reference
- A Confederacy of Dealers
- A Confederacy of Lunches
- A Field Guide to Edible Theropods
- Extract of Radium
- Gentle Ben, Bounty Hunter
- Gnomon algorithm
- Gnomon Chronicles