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ALBANY, N.Y. (December 5, 2002) -- University at Albany faculty member and executive director of the New York State Writers Institute William Kennedy has been included in The New York Times Book Review's top seven books of the year for his seventh novel, Roscoe.

Roscoe is one of only three novels to be included on the 2002 best books list, which will be published on Sunday, Dec. 8. The novel, the latest in Kennedy's "Albany cycle," focuses on Roscoe Owen Conway, a lawyer and one of three friends who in 1921 ran an insurgent campaign that took over the Democratic political machine in Albany.

Kennedy, who was inducted into the 2002 class of Fellows and Foreign Honorary Members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in October of this year, is the author of numerous works, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Ironweed. He began his writing career as a journalist in the Capital Region, during which time he authored O Albany!. In addition to the novels of his "Albany cycle," he co-authored children's fiction with his son and wrote the full-length play Grand View. As well, Kennedy contributed to screenplays for the movies The Cotton Club and Ironweed, from his 1983 novel.

For more information about William Kennedy, visit the New York State Writers Institute Web site at https://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/.

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