Falconer (novel)

Falconer is a 1977 novel by American author John Cheever. The story follows Ezekiel Farragut, a middle-aged professor and drug addict serving time in Falconer State Prison for the manslaughter of his brother. The novel explores themes of imprisonment, guilt, addiction, homosexuality, redemption, and the search for meaning in a bleak and dehumanizing environment. Farragut's experiences within the prison system are presented as a descent into physical and emotional degradation, ultimately leading to a form of spiritual awakening and a desperate escape attempt.

The narrative is characterized by Cheever's signature style, blending realism with elements of the surreal and grotesque. Farragut's internal struggles are juxtaposed against the harsh realities of prison life, including violence, sexual exploitation, and the constant threat of despair. Through his relationships with other inmates, particularly Jody, a younger man with whom he develops a sexual relationship, Farragut confronts his past and begins to grapple with the possibility of forgiveness and self-acceptance.

Falconer is considered one of Cheever's most important and controversial works, exploring darker and more explicitly sexual themes than his earlier stories, which often focused on the lives of suburban upper-middle-class characters. While the novel received mixed reviews upon its publication, it is now regarded as a significant contribution to American literature, offering a unflinching portrayal of confinement and the complexities of the human condition.