About the Author
Daniel Keyes is a resident of Southern Florida. Born in New York, he joined the U.S. Maritime Service at seventeen and went to sea as ship's purser. After Keyes left the sea, he resumed his studies at Brooklyn College where he received his B.A. Degree in psychology.
He was employed as an associate fiction editor, then left editing to go to the fashion photography business. Keyes then earned his license to teach English in the New York City schools. While teaching days and writing weekends, Keyes returned to Brooklyn College at night for post-graduate study in English and American literature. After receiving his M.A. Degree, he left New York to teach creative writing at Wayne State University. He joined the faculty of Ohio University in 1966, was a Professor of English and Creative Writing, and in 2000 was honored with Professor Emeritus Status. Brooklyn College awarded Keyes its 1988, "Distinguished Alumnus Medal of Honor."
He was employed as an associate fiction editor, then left editing to go to the fashion photography business. Keyes then earned his license to teach English in the New York City schools. While teaching days and writing weekends, Keyes returned to Brooklyn College at night for post-graduate study in English and American literature. After receiving his M.A. Degree, he left New York to teach creative writing at Wayne State University. He joined the faculty of Ohio University in 1966, was a Professor of English and Creative Writing, and in 2000 was honored with Professor Emeritus Status. Brooklyn College awarded Keyes its 1988, "Distinguished Alumnus Medal of Honor."
- Keyes' award-winning first novel Flowers for Algernon has never gone out of print in hard covers and in paperback. It has been widely translated and is studied in schools and colleges around the world.
Summary
Charlie Gordon, a mentally challenged thirty-two-year-old man, is chosen by a team of scientists to undergo an experimental surgery designed to boost his intelligence. Alice Kinnian, Charlie’s teacher at the Beekman College Center for Retarded Adults, has recommended Charlie for the experiment because of his exceptional eagerness to learn. The entire narrative of Flowers for Algernon is composed of the “progress reports” that Charlie writes.
Charlie works at Donner’s Bakery in New York City as a janitor and delivery boy. The other employees often taunt him and pick on him, but Charlie is unable to understand that he is the subject of mockery. After a battery of tests—including a maze-solving competition with a mouse named Algernon, who has already had the experimental surgery performed on him—Charlie undergoes the operation. He is initially disappointed that there is no immediate change in his intellect, but with work and help from Alice, he gradually improves his spelling and grammar. Charlie also begins to recover lost memories of his childhood, most of which involve his mother, Rose, who resented and often brutally punished Charlie for not being normal like other children. Algernon’s intelligence begins to slip, and his behavior becomes erratic. Charlie worries that whatever happens to Algernon will soon happen to him as well. Algernon eventually dies. As he passes through a stage of average intelligence on his way back to retardation, Charlie enjoys a brief, relationship with Alice, but he sends her away as he senses the return of his old self. When Charlie’s regression is complete, he briefly returns to his old job at the bakery, where his coworkers welcome him back with kindness. His last request is for the reader of his manuscript to leave fresh flowers on Algernon’s grave.
Charlie works at Donner’s Bakery in New York City as a janitor and delivery boy. The other employees often taunt him and pick on him, but Charlie is unable to understand that he is the subject of mockery. After a battery of tests—including a maze-solving competition with a mouse named Algernon, who has already had the experimental surgery performed on him—Charlie undergoes the operation. He is initially disappointed that there is no immediate change in his intellect, but with work and help from Alice, he gradually improves his spelling and grammar. Charlie also begins to recover lost memories of his childhood, most of which involve his mother, Rose, who resented and often brutally punished Charlie for not being normal like other children. Algernon’s intelligence begins to slip, and his behavior becomes erratic. Charlie worries that whatever happens to Algernon will soon happen to him as well. Algernon eventually dies. As he passes through a stage of average intelligence on his way back to retardation, Charlie enjoys a brief, relationship with Alice, but he sends her away as he senses the return of his old self. When Charlie’s regression is complete, he briefly returns to his old job at the bakery, where his coworkers welcome him back with kindness. His last request is for the reader of his manuscript to leave fresh flowers on Algernon’s grave.