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)

Beautiful Prose

Every now and then you happen upon a book that makes you just stop and listen. This is it. The prose is beautiful. It is not an "action" book it is a book to savour. If I could only ever listen to one book this would be it

Awesome

This is an awesome audio book. The novel is excellent but the narration is superb --- the best I have listened to so far. The narrator is a brilliant artist. The novel is complex and serious work of art. It is for adults--- not for children. It is poetic, profound, and dazzling.

Consummate 'Southern' Story Telling

This is a good book.  Perhaps a great book.  But the reader has to be in the proper frame of mind before taking it on.  Author Robert Penn Warren was a poet.  A Southern poet.  A Pulitzer Prize winning Southern Poet Laureate.  And as a Pulitzer Prize winning Southern Poet Laureate, he has a particularly Southern way of telling a story.  Any Southerner will understand.  There are no short cuts for a true Southern story teller.  You just have to sit back, relax, maybe pour yourself a cool glass of sweat tea and breathe out…  breath in… breath out…   There.   Now you're ready.  No.  Wait.  Let me turn on the porch fan.  It can get a bit sticky up here on the porch in the late afternoon.  Better?  Good.  Now we can begin.  Hold it.  What's that dog gotten into now?  Oh.  Never mind.  The dog's right here, asleep under the chair.  Must be a opossum under the porch again.  We can worry 'bout that later.  Now where was I?  Oh yes.  The book review…

Now imagine 500 pages of that.  Yes, it's long, long-winded and sometimes it seems to take forever to get anywhere.  But there is a good story here, full of politics, sex, intrigue, murder and a big, heapin' helpin' of Southern culture thrown in for good measure.  Sensitive readers should be aware that the "N-word" is casually tossed about in the dialog of many characters throughout the book—Not for the purpose of supporting any racist agenda—but simply to accurately portray how many Southerners talked and thought at the time and place of the story.  (Early 1920's-'30's Louisiana.) 

So there you have it.   This is a book for the literate, those interested in artful prose, Southern history, Southern sensibilities.  It is a book that has and will undoubtedly stand the test of time.  The themes and issues contained are themes and issues that human beings will always face.  Lust, greed, sex, power, religion, influence, manipulation.   Ultimately, it's a tale about the human condition, told in a slow, easy manner by a consummate Southern story teller.  Enjoy. 

Oh, and darlin'?  My tea could use a little refresher.  Thank you kindly. 

Enlightening

This is one of the best books I have ever listened to or read about politics. It is gripping from the first word to the end. It would have made the last election even more interesting. The nuances with which the writer illustrated the story made it very powerful and insightful into human nature at it's core.

Better With Age

A great story written by a great writer about a unique time and place. But really far more than that. Most of all, All the King’s Men is a story about growing up, about becoming, and about boldly facing that reality with awareness.

Few stories can be read over and over with new truths apparent with each reading. All the King’s Men is such a book. Over a period of years, I have read this book three times. Each time I have wished it would continue. It is that good.

In my opinion, it is not a book that should be read quickly. My only criticism is that it overshadows by comparison almost everything I have read before or since.

excellent narration

This is an enjoyable story, narrated and performed with excellence by Michael Emerson. We get to follow the lives of a journalist and the people he meets from his childhood and in the town where he is sent to do a story.

All the King’s Men

Warren describes people and places in such a way that you are there with him. You see the people as clearly as if they were standing in front of you. You get lost in a time and place which seems familiar, even though you have never visited there. It is truly inspiring and filled with life lessons.

I'm speechless, . . . but RPW certainly wasn't!

Only a few books can leave the deep impression that All the King's Men has left on me. Warren was a genius, both in what he had to say about man and how he said it. The ripples sent by this book will continue for a long time. Masterful (as was Michael Emerson's interpretation). . . . I am speechless.

A jewel and a friend

A masterly novel told by a narrator of exquisite talent. Why doesn't Audible hire Michael Emerson to record more books? He is among g the best of the best.

Nice!

The book with the narration creates a wonderful experience and great tone of the book.