All the King's Men

By: Robert Penn Warren

Narrated by: Michael Emerson

Length: 20 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Robert Penn Warren, America's first Poet Laureate, penned one of the most widely read works in American literature with the Pulitzer Prize-winning All the King's Men. An unrivaled novel of American politics, Warren's masterpiece is a classic tale every bit as relevant today as it was upon its release more than 50 years ago.

The fictionalized account of Louisiana's colorful and notorious governor, Huey Pierce Long, All the King's Men follows the startling rise and fall of Willie Stark, a country lawyer in the Deep South of the 1930s. Beset by political enemies, Stark seeks aid from his right-hand man, Jack Burden, who will bear witness to the cataclysmic unfolding of this very American tragedy.

©1946 Robert Penn Warren; 1974 Robert Penn Warren (P)2005 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Literary Fiction, 2007

"The definitive novel about American politics." (The New York Times)
"Mr. Warren has employed vivid characterization and strong language combined with subtle overtones to write a vital, compelling narrative." (Booklist)
"Michael Emerson's performance brings the characters to life with verve and personality....Through a mix of understatement and intensity, Emerson clearly conveys the political turmoil underlying the book; his performance perfectly complements the story, which is as timely as it was 60 years ago....Emerson's reading does justice to a great work." (AudioFile)

An exuberant American novel wonderfully read

Thought-provoking and insightful, well narrated, inspired by Louisiana’s Huey P Long. Complex, satisfying ending. Exuberant use of metaphor and simile that can be a bit much.

Great story and great reader

Michael Emerson makes each character's voice unique and recognizable in this great story. I would listen to any story that he reads because he is so good!

Still true of politics

In this current age of political turmoil, this book, written decades ago, still describes reality. Robert Penn Warren was a genius, and this book should be on everyone’s reading list although it will probably be banned because it’s treatment of black people is quite awful. Too bad, because it’s treatment of politics is spot on, and still has much to teach us.

Wonderful rendition. We’ll read.

The narrator uses a very pleasant tone and accent for the novel. It was a pleasure to listen.

A must

A great book that is always going to feel contemporary. Speaks of both human and political processes that have been forever part of every culture.

The best novel I’ve listened to

Performance by the reader was terrific only outdone by the plot of this great American masterpiece

Just wow!

I’ve been meaning to read this novel for years, as it is the favorite book of several people I respect. The writing and narration are so beautiful as to be haunting.

people & politics

a classic exploration of the complexities of personality, power, character, good and evil. the writing is sublime and the narration is wonderful. i found myself stopping the play just to think about the implications of the author's observations on characters and events. it is a novel of it's time and uses the vernacular of its time. that, too, is something to ponder and to assess for ourselves how much we believe that we as individuals or society have changed.
very thought provoking. i know i will come back to listen to this again.

Book is overrated

Michael Emerson, of Lost fame does the reading and he reads the book with characterizations in a great subtle, distinctive and easy to follow way. Based on his work that I’ve seen, and now heard, I feel he is clearly a better actor than many that are more well known. He brought this book, that was difficult for me to read on a few previous attempts, easier to understand through his narration. I cannot say enough good things about his reading.

On the book itself I can see how it won the awards in the 1940s. The fact that the Warren’s prose goes on a bit shows his poetic side. For a modern reader this drones on a bit. My attitude at several points was get on with it, I get it. I understand what you are saying about the moment, now move on. My father has tried to read some old classics and has said that you do not realize how much writing, and the readers, have changed. It makes relatively modern books, such as All The King’s Men, more difficult to get through than one would imagine.

Robert Penn Warren’s masterpiece here to me seemed typical of southern literature of the time. The family secrets, the slow moving drama, the tremendous pull the past has, the affairs of honor, and the beautiful but damaged woman who helps with the downfall of a man. Any one could make a good story but the southern authors of the first half of the 20th Century to me seem compelled to involve as many in their stories as they can. It does make a rich complex story. A problem is the payoff in the end may not equal the build up.

Revisiting a classic

Would you consider the audio edition of All the King's Men to be better than the print version?

Certainly. The narration actually adds an extra depth to the story

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. In fact I listened to it over a period of 2 months