William Kennedy (author)

William Kennedy (born January 16, 1928) is an American novelist, screenwriter, and journalist best known for his "Albany Cycle," a series of novels set in Albany, New York, primarily during the Great Depression era.

Kennedy was born and raised in Albany, a location that deeply informs his writing. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and later worked as a journalist for several newspapers, including the Albany Times Union.

His writing is characterized by its gritty realism, historical accuracy, and unflinching portrayal of poverty, corruption, and the complexities of human relationships. He often blends historical figures and events with fictional narratives, creating a rich and layered tapestry of Albany's past.

Kennedy's most notable works include Legs (1975), a fictionalized account of gangster Jack "Legs" Diamond; Billy Phelan's Greatest Game (1978), which focuses on a pool hustler; and Ironweed (1983), which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was later adapted into a film starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. Other novels in the Albany Cycle include Quinn's Book (1988), Very Old Bones (1992), and Roscoe (2002).

Beyond his Albany Cycle, Kennedy co-wrote the screenplays for several films, including The Cotton Club (1984) and Ironweed (1987). He has received numerous awards and honors, including a MacArthur Fellowship (also known as a "Genius Grant"). William Kennedy’s body of work constitutes a significant contribution to American literature, solidifying his position as a major contemporary author.