- Hardcover: 540 pages
- Publisher: Thomson Learning; Reprint edition (31 Dec 1998)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0151047723
- ISBN-13: 978-0151047727
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.4 x 3.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 3,107,099 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Synopsis
Willie Stark's obsession with political power leads to the ultimate corruption of his gubernatorial administration.
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First Sentence
To get there you follow Highway 58, going northeast out of the city, and it is a good highway and new. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
To get there you follow Highway 58, going northeast out of the city, and it is a good highway and new. Read the first page
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Absolutely Wonderful Book!,
By
This review is from: All the King's Men (Hardcover)
It is extremely hard to sit down and write a review for any piece of classic literature for there is very little a reviewer can say that is new. Of course, for a book to be considered a classic most of its reviewers have to have had a favorable opinion of the work and all a new reviewer can do is concur or disagree. In this case, I couldn't possibly agree more with previous reviewers who have written rave reviews of this book.This is not so much the story of Willie Stark, who was Willie Talos in the original manuscript, as it the story of Jack Burden, the man telling the story. It really seems to be the story of a young man and his road to maturity. That young man is Jack Burden and Stark seems to be just a convenient focal point around which Warren weaves his story. The plot is very well laid out and flows very well from beginning to end, which is quite an accomplishment when one considers all of the subplots to be found in this book. As Burden tells his story he often wanders down memory lane, recalling events which his story has recalled. Each subplot builds to it's own climax while also building toward the climax of the main story and the reader is swept along like a barrel on the Niagara River. Just as the reader feels as if he can put the book aside for a while, another subplot begins to ascend through the story and the reader is again swept along unable to pause. I got so caught up in one of the subplots that I was late for a very important appointment. I just couldn't stop until I found out what happened. Stark is obviously supposed to resemble Louisiana Governor Huey Long and he very much does so. If one also reads T. Harry Williams biography of Long they will see just how strong the resemblance is. There are several morals and messages to be drawn from this story including thoughts on good and evil and past and future. In addition to the messages though, one has to admire the incredible amount of research Warren had to have done to write this book. Warren of course was alive and well during Huey Long's reign and that had to help him but in all events described his historical accuracy is uncanny. For example, one of the subplots involves Jefferson Davis in a minor way and even in delving in things well beyond his own memories Warren laces the story with many accurate details. In one passage, Warren relates that Davis missed the steamboat that was to carry him on the first leg of his trip to Montgomery to assume the Presidency of the new Confederacy. Warren points out that the boat left Davis Landing and then was halted out in the river while a smaller boat brought the new President out to get on board. A historical fact that would not be common knowledge but that is entirely accurate. Many people avoid books that are considered to be top-flight works of literature. These people often assume that such books must be dull and so philosophical that they are beyond the average reader. In some instances this may be the case but not with this book. Warren has turned out a masterpiece that is not only fun to read but is so enjoyable that the reader will hate to come to the end. There are messages to be found here, both obvious and subtle but do not worry about the messages. They will come through on their own as you sit back and enjoy the ride over the falls.
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Solid Novel,
By
This review is from: All the King's Men (Penguin Modern Classics) (Paperback)
This is the story of Governor Willie Stark, a character based on the real life controversial governor for Louisiana, Huey Long. The story is narrated by Jack Burden, a reporter who gets taken on as staff by Stark at the start of his ascent in state politics. The story of Stark's life is interwoven with that of the narrator.
It's set in the deep south of the 1930's and Warren does a great job in describing the heat of not just the weather but the complex relationships and machinations of politics in this area. Stark starts off as a well meaning idealist, and as the story develops he turns into just another greedy hog with his snout in the trough of political power and influence. It was written in 1946 and won the Pulitzer prize. On the back of my Penguin Classic edition it's described by the New York Times as `The definitive novel about American politics.' I like Gore Vidals political yarns, but RPW really excels himself here. An excellent novel.
1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great writing though a bit long winded in places,
By
This review is from: All the King's Men (Hardcover)
If you are looking for a dramatic political thriller along the lines of the 1949 film version, or those of the much more recent Primary Colors, this is not it. The political rise and fall of Willie Stark form only the backdrop for much of this book, a lot of which is about the life history and relationships of the narrator, journalist Jack Burden. As such, I found it a little slow going at times and wished for a little more plot and less description and backstory. That said, the description is very well written and one can understand why the author was so widely acclaimed. The book ends on a fairly upbeat positive note, tying up loose ends in Jack's life.
The novel's Stanton family, including a former governor of the nameless Southern state where Willie Stark rules, plus the narrator's first name, together provide the name for the Clintonesque Southern governor and presidential candidate in Primary Colors. My copy of this work, purchased in my favourite Oxfam charity bookshop near my workplace, contains the following MS dedication: "To Big George I hope you will enjoy this book. You will find Clinton's platform at the bottom of page 315 and the top of page 316*. Thank you for your generous hospitality in Mallorce and London. Hubert November, 1992" *part of a speech on the need for free health care and other public services
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