Super Short Summary

Published in 1983, Ironweed by William Kennedy is the story of Francis Phelan, a former baseball player turned homeless drifter, who returns to his hometown of Albany, New York, in 1938. Over the span of two days, he reconnects with his past, visiting his family's home and confronting memories of trauma. The novel vividly portrays Francis's experiences and interactions, blending realism with elements of fantasy as he converses with apparitions from his past. Contains themes of infant mortality, homelessness, and fatal illness.