Man in the Dark

A Novel

By: Paul Auster

Narrated by: Paul Auster

Length: 4 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

"I am alone in the dark, turning the world around in my head as I struggle through another bout of insomnia, another white night in the great American wilderness."
So begins Paul Auster's brilliant, devastating tale about the many realities we inhabit as wars flame all around us. Seventy-two-year-old August Brill is recovering from a car accident in his daughter's house in Vermont. When sleep refuses to come, he lies in bed and tells himself stories, struggling to push back thoughts about things he would prefer to forget—his wife's recent death and the horrific murder of his granddaughter's boyfriend, Titus. The retired book critic imagines a parallel world in which America is not at war with Iraq but with itself. In this other America the twin towers did not fall, and the 2000 election results led to secession, as state after state pulled away from the union, and a bloody civil war ensued.

As the night progresses, Brill's story grows increasingly intense, and what he is so desperately trying to avoid insists on being told. Joined in the early hours by his granddaughter, he gradually opens up to her and recounts the story of his marriage. After she falls asleep, he at last finds the courage to revisit the trauma of Titus's death. Passionate and shocking, Man in the Dark is a story of our moment, an audiobook that forces us to confront the blackness of night even as it celebrates the existence of ordinary joys in a world capable of the most grotesque violence.

©2008 Paul Auster (P)2008 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

“Auster's appropriately detached narration penetrates the mind of retired book critic August Brill, who is recovering from a recent injury and the loss of his wife.... Auster's mesmerizing performance captures the listener as he delivers his hypnotic tale of political intrigue.” —AudioFile magazine

“With just the right pace and modulation, [Auster] reveals events that explain the complex mind of the memorable protagonist.” —Library Journal, starred review

“Auster's rueful monotone...seems perfectly suited for a character yanked out of 2007 and into an alternate, post-apocalyptic America... [He] does better than any actor could in articulating his skewed imagination.” —Winston-Salem Journal

Awesome book awesome audiobook

Loved the book loved how the author writes his thoughts about August Brill and the different realities good book short read but really opens your mind 5/5

I only buy Paul Auster self narrated books now

Another great story read by the author. His reading of the book brings it to a deeper place. At first i wasn't sure about his narration. The semi monotone voice is a little off putting, but after the first 10 minutes i couldn't imagine it read any other way. Its a great listen, hard to turn off. Paul Auster has yet to let me down, i highly recommend this book. After you've listened to this and loved it, i suggest you check out Invisible, a great story.

Man in the Dark Review

Paul Auster continues to deliver incredible stories. This story was hard to put down

Riveting

Excellent story told as only Paul Auster can. Throughly enjoyable and highly recommended.
Jim Owen
Author
In Search Of A River.