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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
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    4,682
  • 4 Stars
    1,809
  • 3 Stars
    975
  • 2 Stars
    519
  • 1 Stars
    445
Performance
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    4,574
  • 4 Stars
    1,216
  • 3 Stars
    526
  • 2 Stars
    215
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    230
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    3,933
  • 4 Stars
    1,297
  • 3 Stars
    768
  • 2 Stars
    416
  • 1 Stars
    349

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Laugh Out Loud Funny

I love humor but rarely laugh out loud. However, with this book I laughed practically every time Ignatius spoke. The narrator was phenomenal in creating this amazing character, as well as Jones and all the others. Their voices were all distinct, and it was hard to believe one narrator was doing them all. I don't think I would have enjoyed it as much reading it in print.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

What is all the fuss about?

There is not a single character in this book I liked or cared about. That is saying a lot from someone who finds quirky and offbeat inspiring.

I did finish it - more than several reviewers, I see now. This must be a love or hate book. I absolutely do not see how this book could have ever won a prize of any kind. The Pulitzer is what kept me going, but it let me down.

There are funny scenes - that is why the two stars instead of one. The narrator is quite good with the exception of the exclamations of Jones. Those ooooooo's set my teeth on edge every time.

It is a popular book, and one I had heard of for years. I am not sorry I listened to it, for now I know. I will not listen again. I do think that if you want to try this book, listening is a good choice as it brings the characters to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The most astonishing performance I've ever heard

I did not know what to expect when I started listening to this book, and as the book progressed that stayed true; I didn't know what to expect next. The story is hilarious and sad and surprisingly moving. The writing is bold and clear and audacious. Barrett Whitener's performance was all of those things too. His characterizations were brave and broad, almost over the top, yet nothing else would suffice to tell this wild story. He skirted the edge of buffoonery the entire time, and yet never crossed too far. My hat is off to this extraordinary narrator for doing justice to this extraordinary novel. Just buy it!! You won't be sorry.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Intellectual Humor at its BEST!

I'm more disheartened than surprised that there are so many bad reviews of this completely one-of-a-kind masterpiece. If you're looking for 'easy comedy', or something deserving of a 'laugh-track', this is not for you. But if you're insightful, observant, and appreciative of odd-personality types, and can read between the lines...you're a few clicks away from the hands-down funniest piece of work you'll ever come across in your entire lifetime.

This is GOLD! And there's nothing else like it!!!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A huge surprise

Downloaded by my son, we have both listened and been amazed at this book. The characters are well delineated by the reader, with every nuance of accent and affect possible. It makes you laugh, but more often shake your head in amazement at the idiocy of these people. I can't recommend it to my book club (very funny, frank references to masturbation), but you gotta read this!

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

this book has always been a great favorite

ive loved this book for years & was delighted to get it on audible. i must say this, NO WHITE PEOPLE SHOULD DO A BLACK VOICE!!!! esp. this narrator. it was grinding & terribly offensive.in my mind, there is no hell where i could go & hear a black man say "whoa" like that. it has never happened in all the history of humanity, except for this unfortunate audio book. of all the books on earth to screw up, this one is a MOST unfortunate choice. may the insulted & debauched ghost of john kennedy toole haunt this narrator's dreams.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Hated nearly every minute of it.

I've read reviews from several sources and this seems to be one of those books with no middle ground - you either adore or abhor it. I fell to the latter. Couldn't stand the main character nor nearly any other character in the book. I thought the narrator did a tremendous job with the material he had to work with. Jones came through to be the only character that I could stand to listen to by the end of the book.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

Huh?!

Tolerated through chapter 2 before I decided it wasn't going to get any less annoying. Just couldn't stop thinking about smacking every one of the characters as I was listening.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely HILARIOUS! One of the BEST EVER!

Within the first few minutes I was already laughing out loud, and continued to do so all the way until the end - even when out in public by myself. What a shame the author didn't live long enough to see his incredible novel published - he was a brilliant writer, way before his time. You'll never forget these characters! Especially the way the narrator brought them all to life! What an incredible job by Barrett Whitener! He deserves an award for this one, no doubt! Well, except for the small part of trying to sound Hispanic and having it sound more like a Chinese. But other than that, I can't imagine any other narrator doing a more spectacular job and nailing each and every character with just the right tones and nuances to make them as real and 3-Dimensional as can be. John Kennedy Toole would have been proud! THIS ONE'S A WINNER - ALL AROUND!

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars

I couldn't finish the book

I had no problems with the narration. I really just didn't get the story. I found the characters. especially the main character, to be absolutely annoying. I really don't like "not finishing" a book, but I finally told myself life is just too short to waste on a book that I don't like.

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