Appearance
All the King's Men (Greatest Books of the 20th Century)
Jack was a journalist living in the 1930s in the South. As a newspaperman he had the opportunity to follow the early political campaign of the idealistic Willie Stark, a farm boy who thought he could make a difference and agreed to run when some powerful men asked him.Little did Willie know that he was a stooge set up to split the vote and guarantee a win to his opponent. Little did he know that nobody was listening to his earnest, figure-ridden speeches about how he would make the country a better place. Jack was there to help pick up the pieces when Willie finally found out what was going on, and he was there to witness Willie's rebirth as a fighter, who promised to come back to campaign on his own for the next election.Years later Jack is no longer in journalism. Instead, he is Willie's right-hand man. He is the one who keeps track of the things Governor Willie Stark needs to get done. He is the one who digs up dirt on friends and opponents and puts pressure where pressure is needed. He is essential to the smooth running of Willie's personal and political life, and he is much reviled by many people for his role in the government.In Jack's mind, though, Willie is a better politician than most. There is some corruption within his organization, but there is also much more good being accomplished than in past governments. Jack defends to his friends and himself that such good should and does overshadow the dark parts of his boss. As this book progresses, we are able to see how decent and moral people can be sucked into a somewhat immoral life, and how those who are immoral to begin with can find places to sneak into an ethical man's world.I really liked watching the evolution of all of the characters in this book, and the changing relationships among them. It was interesting to puzzle through Willie's change from idealistic young man to hardened womanizer, or Jack's change from slacker student to dedicated blackmailer. I liked seeing where Jack and Anne's relationship went wrong, and I liked the stubborn way Adam refused to let his friendship with Jack go.This book had some beautiful descriptive paragraphs, but there were times in which I felt I was simply wallowing in description, trying to wade through words in order to get back to the story.
All the King's Men (Greatest Books of the 20th Century)
This is one of those books that I've been meaning to read for years. My advice is don't wait, READ IT NOW! This is now on my top ten list of favorite all time books.The writing (as befits a three time Pulitzer Prize winner and the National Poet Laureate) is eloquent. The story of southern politician Willie Stark is not only an astute novel about Americian politics, it is a novel that examines the foundations of philosophy. What is good, what is evil is an on-going theme.However, the fascinating part for me is the narrator, Jack Burden. (the names Penn Warren selects are so wonderfully Dickensonian!) His character and his motivation is what drives this story. In many ways Willie Stark's drive in politics and his desires both political and personal is a recognizable theme. (Yes he is based on Huey Long, Governor of Louisianna and populist and corupt demagogue) But Jack Burden, ahhhh Jackie Bird. There is a dark horse! Jack comes from privilege, he grew up with the children of a former governor. He has every advantage, breeding, money, brains, talent and yet he is a rootless soul with no goals. Then he meets Willie, and despite all of his family and friends horror at Jack's working for such a corrupt and crude politician, Jack perserves.The end, when he compares his two friends, Adam Staunton and Willie Stark is the first and only time he uses the word friend to describe Willie. Usually he refers to him as the "Boss". This is a key part of what motivates Jack.Beyond the character studies of Jack and Willie, this is plain and simple a good story. It is one that you will devour and will keep you fascinated until the end. The revelations about Jack's life, the inevitable clashing of the two worlds (Jack's upperclass family/history and the world of Willie Stark) and the sense of place, the south in the 1930s makes for absorbed reading. I highly recommend this book. It is worth your time.
All the King's Men (Greatest Books of the 20th Century)
This is an interesting, well written and informative study of politics and human nature. The author has overdone the wordiness a bit but this is easy to ignore. The story is a very good one and has inspired me to learn more about Huey Long, even though the author takes pains to emphasize that this is not a bio of Long.
All the King's Men (Greatest Books of the 20th Century)
I fell under the spell of Robert Penn Warren while at Vanderbilt in the late 60s and early 70s. He was the college roommate of one of my father's friends who used to tell me about "Red".It's a magical book. Jack Burden and the friend's of one's youth -- those are the only ones you can ever really be friends with. True I think.I haven't read it in 15 years now and don't think I will again. I wouldn't want to tarnish my memory of it.
All the King's Men (Greatest Books of the 20th Century)
Outstanding writing..........unbelievable. Could not quit reading it. Best book I have ever read.......and I have read thousands of books.
All the King's Men (Greatest Books of the 20th Century)
I didn't really see this as Willie Stark's story. It was about Jack Burden (aptly named) and his travel from innocence to corruption. He learned it at Willie's knee but ultimately the story was his. I wish I had known before that the politic would take such a back seat. I would have picked this book up years ago and have read it 3 times by now. I loved the language, the description and the imagery that Warren invoked.