{"product_id":"albany-cycle-book-1-billy-phelans-greatest-game-ironweed-very-old-bones-9780743221023","title":"ALBANY CYCLE BOOK 1: BILLY PHELAN'S GREATEST GAME; IRONWEED; VERY OLD BONES","description":"\u003cp\u003eWilliam Kennedys ALBANY CYCLE is one of the greatest and most enjoyable achievements of post-war American literature. In Albany  New York  William Kennedy has made a crucible to test the American dream. His novels  which range from the middle of the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth  bubble and crack with the energy of Irish immigrants trying to take the main chance in the land of opportunity. Francis Phelan is  alongside Legs Diamond  William Kennedys greatest character. Ex-ball player  latterly a bum  lush and hardcase  he is central to these three Albany novels: father to the pool shark Billy who struggles with his legacy of violence and self-glorification (BILLY PHELANS GREATEST GAME); brother to artist Peter whose paintings explore the dark corners of his family history  including Franciss life (VERY OLD BONES); and antihero of Pulitzer Prize winning IRONWEED  in which Phelan returns to Albany at the end of the Depression  roaming the familiar streets with hi\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45275482685493,"sku":"ByrdShop_0743221028","price":336.68,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780743221023.jpg?v=1780508166","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/albany-cycle-book-1-billy-phelans-greatest-game-ironweed-very-old-bones-9780743221023","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}