“Ironweed“ By William Kennedy

Ironweed is a 1983 novel by William Kennedy that tells the story of Francis Phelan, a homeless man who returns to his hometown of Albany, New York during the Great Depression. Phelan is haunted by the memories of his past, particularly the accidental death of his son and the subsequent breakdown of his marriage. As Phelan wanders the streets of Albany, he meets a community of other homeless people, including his old friend and drinking buddy, Helen Archer. Together, they navigate the harsh realities of life on the streets, trying to survive the cold winters and the indifference of those around them. Throughout the novel, Kennedy intersperses Phelan’s present-day struggles with flashbacks to his past, including his time as a baseball player and his experiences as a young father. These flashbacks serve to reveal the events and experiences that have led Phelan to his current state of homelessness and despair. As Phelan and Helen struggle to survive, they are also visited by the ghosts of