Billy Phelan's Greatest Game by William Kennedy

Billy Phelan's Greatest Game is a novel set in the 1930s, focusing on the life of a small-time hustler and poker player named Billy Phelan. When a local politician's son is kidnapped, Billy becomes embroiled in the case, despite his attempts to stay out of it. The story explores the themes of morality, corruption, and redemption as Billy navigates the seedy underbelly of Albany, New York, and is forced to confront his own past and make some tough decisions.

The 5584th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 75

Since this book was first published in 1978, there is a penalty of 6.4%. The age adjusted score is 70.2.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.