Legs (novel)
Legs is a 1975 novel by William Kennedy. It is the first book in Kennedy's Albany Cycle.
.jpg.webp) First edition | |
| Author | William Kennedy |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Coward, McCann & Geoghegan |
Publication date | 1975 |
| Media type | Print (hardback & paperback) |
| Pages | 317 pp |
| ISBN | 0-698-10672-5 |
| OCLC | 1345969 |
| 813/.5/4 | |
| LC Class | PZ4.K3615 Le PS3561.E428 |
| Preceded by | The Ink Truck |
| Followed by | Billy Phelan's Greatest Game |
Plot summary
The book chronicles the life of the gangster Jack 'Legs' Diamond. It is told from the perspective of Jack's lawyer, Marcus Gormen. Marcus becomes involved with "Legs" Diamond to add excitement to his otherwise boring life, and the best way to do this was by immortalizing a highly popular gangster. Through Gormen's eyes, Kennedy is able to elicit sympathy for the criminal, transposing this sympathy into the context of America during the 1920s and 30s: excess, collapse, destitution, and analysis of right and wrong, good and evil.
Adaptations
In 2009, Audible.com produced an audio version of Legs, narrated by Joe Barrett, as part of its Modern Vanguard line of audiobooks.