Neon Bible

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Confederacy of Dunces wrote The Neon Bible, a poignant and evocative first novel. The story follows a lonely child's coming-of-age journey in a conservative town, exploring his friendship with his great-aunt Mae and the challenges of living in a religiously fanatic environment.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 02 May 2019
Publisher: Grove Press / Atlantic Monthly Press

The accomplished and evocative debut novel by the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of A Confederacy of Dunces , John Kennedy Toole, is titled The Neon Bible . At the age of sixteen, Toole wrote this remarkable work for a literary contest. However, it was only after his passing that the manuscript saw its publication, spanning a twenty-year period.
The novel begins with the narrator, a young man named David, embarking on a train journey, leaving the small Southern town he has known his entire life. As the story unfolds, we witness the tender and tragic coming-of-age tale of a lonely child, intricately woven around David's unconventional friendship with his great-aunt Mae, a former stage performer who fiercely opposes the conservative townspeople. The narrative revolves around the daily struggles and hardships of living in an environment characterized by religious fanaticism. From the very first lines of The Neon Bible , David emerges as a fully realized character, displaying a naivety coupled with sharp observance. Through the skilled artistry of John Kennedy Toole, we are seamlessly drawn into his world, immersing ourselves in the rich tapestry of his narrative.

Weight: 132g
Dimension: 194 x 123 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781611854985
Edition number: Main