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A Confederacy of Dunces  By  cover art

A Confederacy of Dunces

By: John Kennedy Toole
Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
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Publisher's summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize

“A masterwork . . . the novel astonishes with its inventiveness . . . it is nothing less than a grand comic fugue.”—The New York Times Book Review

A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs.

So enters one of the most memorable characters in recent American fiction.

The hero of John Kennedy Toole's incomparable, Pultizer Prize–winning comic classic is one Ignatius J. Reilly, an obese, self-absorbed, hapless Don Quixote of the French Quarter, whose half-hearted attempts at employment lead to a series of wacky adventures among the lower denizens of New Orleans. This book has become an American comic masterpiece.

©1980 Thelma D. Toole (P)1997 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Barrett Whitener strikes just the right note." (AudioFile)
"A Confederacy of Dunces has been reviewed almost everywhere, and every reviewer has loved it. For once, everyone is right." (Rolling Stone)
"What a delight, what a roaring, rollicking, footstomping wonder this book is! I laughed until my sides ached, and then I laughed on." (Chicago Sun-Times)

What listeners say about A Confederacy of Dunces

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A great book / a fantastic voice performance!

What made the experience of listening to A Confederacy of Dunces the most enjoyable?

I really loved feeling like I could trust the performer as much as I did the text. I had read the books a number of times, but felt like hearing it this time. I'm so glad I did!

What was one of the most memorable moments of A Confederacy of Dunces?

The differentiation was impressive...and the accents totally believable.

What does Barrett Whitener bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

It felt like Barrett Whitener was having a blast...and that means the world to the listener.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Oh Mah Gawd!

Ignatius J. Reilly is utterly and hilariously unforgettable ... So disturbing is he that one wishes to look away, but cannot. A host of delightful characters brought to life by Barrett Whitener, who does John Kennedy Toole's one and only novel proud.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Hilarious!

Would you consider the audio edition of A Confederacy of Dunces to be better than the print version?

The print version might be great, but for me the accents, the timing, and the emotions of the reading were part of what made it so wonderful!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Hmm. Ignatius because of his huge ego :D But I also loved Jones for basically saying everything he was thinking (which somehow never got him in trouble), poor Mansuko for being so hard working, Myrna because of how absolutely crazy she drove Ignatius from afar (also addressing her love letters with "Sirs:", and Trixie for sticking to her guns.

Which scene was your favorite?

It was a super minor scene but I really enjoyed the picture of Myrna and Ignatius terrorizing that teacher and that college.

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

It took me 3 days of listening with a break day among them. It wasn't a compulsive read for me, but quite enjoyable nonetheless.

Any additional comments?

I rarely find someone else with as messed-up a sense of humor as my own. And to think I found out about this book entirely by accident, because I heard a biographer talking about its author in a podcast!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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The very best audiobook ever made!

What made the experience of listening to A Confederacy of Dunces the most enjoyable?

This book is essentially about New Orleans and its people and the narration brings every exquisite detail to life!

What did you like best about this story?

This novel is the most unique I have ever read. The main character is literally a huge personality that is both fascinating, horrifying and wonderfully entertaining. You will never encounter a group of characters like this.

What about Barrett Whitener’s performance did you like?

Having been an avid audiobook fan for 20 years I have to say this is by far my favorite narration. It reaches heights of perfection that I didn't think were possible. Each character is perfectly rendered and I have listened to this audiobook about 12 times and always find more reasons to consider it to be the pinnacle of audiobook narration.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Amazing Performance!

I have read this book countless times and have probably given away more copies than any other book. I love this book!

The audiobook experience with this is unbelievable! Barrett Whitener does an excellent job with the voices in this book. As a native of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, I've spent a lot of time in the French Quarter and New Orleans. Mr. Whitener captures the dialects brilliantly! He makes you feel as though you are strolling along Canal Place with Ignatius.

This book will make you laugh out loud and you'll want to share it with everyone you know!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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I love this book!!

If you could sum up A Confederacy of Dunces in three words, what would they be?

constant comedy throughout.

What didn’t you like about Barrett Whitener’s performance?

Although I love this book and I enjoy the narration, the question must be asked, has Barrett Whitener ever met a single black person? The "accent" given to all of the black characters was annoying. I am from Louisiana and only 30 minutes north of New Orleans. While native New Orleans do have a colorful accent in New Orleans, it is not the one narrated.

Any additional comments?

Read this book or listen to it. I was originally put off by the main character's ego, I gave it another try and fell madly in love with it.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Pulitzer...really???

This book wasn’t for you, but who do you think might enjoy it more?

Intellectual liberals from the 60's

Would you ever listen to anything by John Kennedy Toole again?

No way

What didn’t you like about Barrett Whitener’s performance?

Really over the top. Maybe it was the characters, but I just didn't like it

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Confederacy of Dunces?

The whole book.

Any additional comments?

I downloaded this book based on the dated reviews. The characters are so leaden and dated I just could not go on and finish. I know it was a big hit in the 60's and that is where it belongs.

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Not Funny

I do like satire but this book just wasn't funny. Barely got through it. I can't believe this won prizes.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Entertaining From Start to Finish

Outside of P.G. Wodehouse I haven't spent much time on comic novels. This time I am so glad I did. Well written and so well read. Bravo to Barrett Whitener. He hit the perfect note.He conjured up the character just as you might imagine him. Not only was it a great listen, I plan to listen again.

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Overrated

What would have made A Confederacy of Dunces better?

A Confederacy of Dunces would have been a lot better if it had been written by someone who is funny. I don't think Mr Toole is very funny and I have no idea why this book has sold well. It is boring.

What could John Kennedy Toole have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I have no idea what would transform an un-funny writer to a funny one.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Barrett Whitener?

I am not sure if changing narrators would be at all helpful. I suppose you could make it slightly more entertaining by having Tony Blair read it in a funny voice, or get Gilbert Gottfried to read it REALLY LOUD.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from A Confederacy of Dunces?

It wouldn't be so much the cutting of a scene as throwing the entire book in the wood-chipper and going "oops -- oh well".

Any additional comments?

This is a highly over-rated book. Even the weather-report for central Sahara is more entertaining than this.

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