Legs (1975)

The first novel in William Kennedy’s “Albany Cycle”—it became a trilogy with the Pulitzer-winning Ironweed and grew from there—is a fictional account of the gangster Jack “Legs” Diamond, whose career ended in late 1931 with his mysterious execution-style death in Albany, the capital of New York state. He was 34. His murder was never solved. Kennedy tells his story with such wit and spirit it almost forces you to read more slowly and savor it. He says only suckers ever called him Legs—he was Jack to everyone who knew him. But somehow I feel more comfortable calling him Legs. So call me a sucker. Legs is a real historical character, of course, a bootlegger who was famous for surviving assassination attempts until he didn’t—that is three, but not the fourth. His legend provided some grist for F. Scott Fitzgerald, inspiring the character of Jay Gatsby. The style of charisma differed between Legs and Gatsby, but Legs had it too, and by the barrel, entertaining the news guys who followed him around and adored and reviled him by turns. He was an unpleasant and cruel man, taking revenge (including murder) on everyone he could who he felt deserved it. He took a famous trip to Europe when he was under suspicion for one such, and for which he was responsible—by reputation dismembering and dumping the remains in a river. The only problem was nobody could find the body. It was a big story. Reporters traveled with Legs aboard the ship to Europe and he entertained them with carefree banter. He was subsequently denied entry into the UK, Belgium, and Germany, and sent home. It’s all here, including his wife, mistress, and the general sex appeal. The writing is just great, with Kennedy spewing rapid-fire gangland argot of the time and wielding a structure that gets several threads going at once, like the man spinning plates on top of sticks. He keeps it going, and already Kennedy’s deep love of place is apparent in terms of Albany and environs, which includes the Catskills region. Legs, in fact, first established himself in the town of Catskill, the first place he organized for criming purposes, and the foundation of his career bootlegging booze in the Prohibition era and branching out from there. Kennedy’s cycle is up to eight novels now, two published in this century (and Kennedy is still alive!). Looking forward to getting into more of them.

In case the library is closed due to pandemic, which is over.
William Kennedy, An Albany Trio