A Brief History of Author William Kennedy

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William Kennedy is an award-winning author, born and raised in Albany, New York. Growing up Kennedy was raised Catholic in the North Albany neighborhood. He attended school in both the Albany Public School system and Christian Brothers Academy. Kennedy went on to graduate from Siena College in 1949. Shortly after his graduation from Siena, he was drafted into the U.S. Army where he wrote for the Army newspaper while in Europe. 

After returning to Albany in 1952, Kennedy worked for a number of years as an investigative reporter for the Times Union. While working for the Times Union Kennedy was involved in exposing the corrupt inner workings of Daniel P. O’Connell; a prominent figure in the democratic party at the time. He then went on to live in Puerto Rico where he wrote for the San Juan Star for several years. 

The Albany Cycle

Despite the fact that Kennedy had left Albany several times, once he returned his love for his hometown influenced eight of his novels, all set in the city. This collection of novels (known as The Albany Cycle) takes a deep dive into the world of the Albany Democratic Machine and the people involved in its success. One of these novels, Ironweed, won Kennedy the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1984. Kennedy has also won the Peggy V. Helerich Distinguished Author Award in 2001, and the Fitzgerald Award for Achievement in American Literature in 2007. 





Historic Albany Foundation Book Club, 2022

This year’s book club feature is Kennedy’s 2002 novel, Roscoe. Roscoe is the seventh installment in The Albany Cycle collection and is loosely based on the story of Daniel P. O’Connell’s political machine. The novel centers around Roscoe Conoway who has been second in command of said machine for almost 30 years. Set just after the end of WWII, the book follows Roscoe as he tries to leave politics forever while discovering just how wrapped up he truly is. Throughout the novel, Roscoe looks back at his life and the devastating events that have taken place due to his involvement in corrupt politics. 

Kennedy uses his wealth of knowledge about Albany politics to center this book around real events, such as the shooting of local gangster Jack “Legs” Diamond. As the novel is based heavily around facts; it allows for it to extend past the realm of a traditional fiction story. Roscoe becomes an interesting mashup between historical fiction and nonfiction, as some events are based around Kennedy’s own life experiences. This causes the references to prominent historical figures, along with the vibrant setting of Albany in the mid-1900s to create a dynamic world for Roscoe to navigate. Kennedy’s connection to the city is evident in this novel, making it a perfect read for locals interested in history and politics. 

 

This year’s book club is held virtually on zoom and is free to join. The discussions will be led by David Hochfelder, professor at the University of Albany. Author William Kennedy will join us in our final session (March 16th) along with Paul Grondahl of the Writers Institute.

If you’re interested in Albany politics, local history, or just an avid reader join us on Wednesday, March 9th, and 16th. For more information or to sign up check out the link below!