All the King's Men

By: Robert Penn Warren

Narrated by: Michael Emerson

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.

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)

Marvelously written and read

This is a great novel. You probably already know that. What you may not know is that this audiobook production is top-notch. The narrator is spot on, capturing the poetry of the writing and the tone of the south. Just a fantastic package of writing and narration.

Highly recommended.

I expected politics, but got life intead

No wonder this book is on every "Best Books of the 20th Century" list you see. It's brilliant. I knew it was based loosely on Huey Long, so I expected politics. What I didn't expect was the shift about a third of the way into the book into life: love, loss, betrayal, disappointment, loyalty and more. I can't say more than the thousands of reviews already say. It's beautifully written and the narration suits it perfectly.

More than a political novel.

Yes, this is a classic political novel, but it is so much more than that. It is about the South and America in the early 20th century, coming of age and life in general. A good book and a good audio production.

I can't believe I waited so many years to read

And to think this book has been sitting in libraries since I was born. If I had read it before when I was young, these last couple of political decades would have seen me reading it again.

What amazing prose and to be able to enjoy it for 21 hours. I'm in literary heaven. Warren's prose and plot holds up today as well as the decade it was written. The book is plain spoken when Willie Stark opens his mouth, but the story behind his rise to power is as subtle and complex as any character study I've ever read.

To see through young naïve idealist Jack Burden's eyes as he first falls in love with Stark's vision and integrity and then stays by his side out of love even while Stark's priorities change with the passage of the years and the accumulation of power, is a beautiful, humorous, painful and powerful experience.

This is the kind of writing, the kind of plot that happens rarely; it is what serious writers strive for. A work that is true beyond it's time and so well wrought that most wordsmiths pale in comparison.

And the narration! I didn't think I would like Emerson at first. But after a while I realized that his voice was perfect. I don't know how far into it that happened; but it did. Someone knew what they were doing when they chose him to read.

Brilliant

This has been my third reading of ATKM. At first I found the voice jarring, and the Southern accents almost comical. But I came to deeply appreciate his many voices, which fit the simple but emotionally rich dialogue beautifully. This book is my favorite book, and this performance does it justice.