Title: All the King's Men Author: Robert Penn Warren type of book: Political Fiction call number: Fic

This book is strong in character, story, language.

Summary:
Set in the 1930's in the deep south of Louisiana, Warren's novel traces the life of Jack Burden, Warren's masterpiece is a fascinating character study of Jack Burden, a character who doesn't believe that his own actions affect the people and events in his life.

Tragic events in the novel, however, including the suicide of his father and the murder/suicide of his best friend and boss, who is Louisiana's governor (patterned after the real life governor Huey Long of Mississippi), force him to reevaluate the effect his actions actually have on relationships and people around him.

I would recommend this book!

Why?
The book is rich in southern mannerism, speech and colloquialism. In fact you are almost swept up in the imagery of this pre-WWII, laid-back southern mentality. Warren broaches such themes as political corruption, self-actualization, love and God. Can a good end, accomplished through corrupted and evil means, vindicate itself?

This towering work leaves the reader with a sense of understanding the world a little better, just by perching in Jack Burden's head for 400+ riveting pages.

Employee Initials: KA Review Date: December 2003

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