All the King's Men

Ένα κλασικό μυθιστόρημα πια της Αμερικανικής Λογοτεχνίας, που αναδεικνύει στον στυγνό αμοραλισμό των πολιτικών ( κάθε εποχής θα έλεγα ). Πέρα όμως από τον βασιλιά, τον κυβερνήτη Γουίλι Σταρκ και τον αγώνα του μέχρι τέλους για να επιβληθεί στους πάντες, εγώ εντυπωσιάστηκα περισσότερο από τον βοηθό του, τον Τζακ Μπέρντεν. Άνθρωπος καλλιεργημένος, που όμως "υπηρετεί" πιστά το αφεντικό του, τσαλαπατώντας πάνω σε κάθε τι που κάποτε ήταν δικό του. Μέχρι που ανακαλύπτει τη δική του αλήθεια και μέσα από τραγικές συγκυρίες επαναπροσδιορίζει τη ζωή του.
Ίσως να κουράζει λίγο η ανάγνωσή του, αλλά στο τέλος κλείνεις το βιβλίο με γλυκιά ευχαρίστηση.

Много добра американска класика.

Препрочитал съм неведнъж тази книга и всеки път има нещо ново, което да грабне вниманието ми.

Препоръчвам!

The default edition is 439 pages. There is a "restored edition" with 656 pages and that must be the same as this Kindle edition. With research, I could probably learn why there is a 200 page difference. I suspect, however, that an editor wisely cut some of the large portions where Warren seems to go off on a philosophical tangent of internal dialog. These also contain extremely long sentences. I admit I could have done without them, but they weren't so bad as to deserve long sighs, eye-rolling or skimming.

It is said this is largely based on Huey Long. I remember references to that politician when I was a child but nothing more than his name. I skimmed his Wikipedia page and I think there can be no doubt that Warren lifted heavily from the life of that politician for his novel. In the novel, Willie Stark wants to build a hospital while Huey Long built the tallest state capitol building in the country (and it still is). In other ways, Huey Long and Willie Stark are hand in glove: free health care for everyone and raise taxes on the wealthy and the corporations (sound familiar?).

This is a first person narrative from the character Jack Burden and it is not just the story of Willie Stark.

But I must tell about the first excursion into the enchantments of the past. Not that the first excursion has anything directly to do with the story of Willie Stark, but it has a great deal to do with the story of Jack Burden, and the story of Willie Stark and the story of Jack Burden are, in one sense, one story.

Huey Long and Willie Stark's political careers were marked by bribery and corruption. No dirty politician achieves "greatness" without help and that is not just the stuff of novels.

As a whole, this was most definitely worth the Pulitzer it received. I think if I had read the 439 page version I would be giving it a 5-star rating. Instead, I read the longer version which at best is a middlin' 4-stars.

▫️Գրքի գործողությունները տեղի են ունենում ԱՄՆ-ում 1922-ից 1939 թվականներին: Վեպի գլխավոր հերոսը Վիլլի Ստարկն է, ով դառնում է նահանգապետ, ու ամբողջ գրքի ընթացքում կարելի է տեսնել, թե ինչպես է նա սկսում փոխվել։

▫️Մինչ իշխանության գալը նա հավատում էր ազնվությանը, դեմ էր քաղաքական գործիչների կեղտոտ մեթոդներին, բայց քաղաքականությունը փոխում է բոլորին։
Հեղինակը երբեմն արտահայտում է իր մտքերը փիլիսոփայի, երբեմն՝ հոգեբանի տեսանկյունից։

▫️Գիրքը երկար կարդացի ու մի փոքր դժվարությամբ, բայց կարող եմ ասել , որ այն երբեք չեմ մոռանա։ Սա այն գրքերից է , որ դաջվում է սրտումդ և հանգիստ չի տալիս։ Այստեղ դուք կգտնեք ամեն ինչ՝ սեր, խիղճ, հանցագործություններ և հատուցում, մի ամբողջ կյանք:

▫️Ինձ համար վեպը քաղաքականության մասին չէ, այն մարդկային էության մասին է, այն մասին, ինչի դեմ մարդիկ չեն կարող պայքարել։

▫️Վեպում չկան պարզ պատասխաններ, չկա ակնհայտ բարոյականություն, ամեն ինչ բարդ է ինչպես կյանքը։

▫️Բոլոր հերոսները բարդ և երկիմաստ են: Նույնիսկ նրանք, ովքեր առաջին հայացքից պարզ ու հասկանալի են։ Կարդում ես ու տեսնում, որ բոլորը փորձում են լավ գործ անել, բայց իրականում ոչ մեկին չի հաջողվում։

Իսկ հայերեն թարգմանության մասին խոսքեր չկան։

I read All the King’s Men several months ago after hearing from someone how much he and his book club had enjoyed the book. It had been sitting on my shelf for some time, and that recommendation was all the motivation I needed to finally pick up the book.

All the King’s Men is often referred to as a great novel of American politics—what a misnomer! Let’s not even focus on the “great” part; let’s talk first about “politics.” It’s not a book about politics; it’s a book about a man—and not the man whom you would think, the politician—rather it is about Jack Burden, the narrator—journalist and right-hand man (or lackey depending on your viewpoint) for Southern governor Willie Stark.
The fact that he works in politics is not entirely irrelevant, but for much of the book it seems almost incidental since so much of what we learn from Jack is particular to his own situation, apart from his work on the political scene.

I found some of the characters to be frustratingly clichéd (the fast-talking dame, the virgin queen, the long-suffering wife). On the other hand, there were Sugar-Boy* and Cass Mastern and somebody whose name I can’t remember but who tickled me to pieces.

The storyline often wasn’t particularly compelling either (though I suppose this is not the type of book you are meant to read ultimately for the plot); and at times it was melodramatic and predictable. I wonder if my reading this in the twenty-first century when so many storylines have been done and redone has anything to do with that. Maybe in 1946 readers couldn’t see some of it coming because they hadn’t already watched it fifty times in some television show or movie, but I’ve seen a couple episodes of Dateline and some TV movies in my day, so... (I’m referring, for example, to what happens with Willie’s son and how the Adam Stanton plotline unfolds.)

There were many points at which I really did enjoy the book, though. When it made me sit and think for a minute, or laugh out loud, or re-read just for the pleasure of enjoying the phrasing again. And I had a really nice run for about 200 pages in the middle of the book (the parts on Cass Mastern and Judge Irwin) when I truly enjoyed what I was reading. I think that was in large part because I enjoy how Cass Mastern tells a story much more than I enjoy how Jack Burden does. For the most part, however, I was incredulous as I read, scratching my head and wondering what exactly people love so much about this book. For me, its flaws undercut the enjoyment too much.

*The line where Burden says, “No doubt you thought Sugar-Boy was a Negro”—ha! Totally got me with that one.

Honestly... a let down. I was really looking forward to reading this book, especially given the story/setting and the wonderful reviews I read on Goodreads. However, I had to stop reading it just under halfway through.

I am at a loss as to why Warren won the Pulitzer in 1947 for this novel. The writing style is atrocious. There are countless long, run-on sentences (some of them run for half a page - literally) that are continuously overdrawn in metaphor and simile. I'm a fan of florid writing, but Warren's attempt is so awkward and it fails miserably. On more than one occasion, I found myself questioning what he was initially describing after going on and on and on and on and... you get my point. There were however brief moments of beautiful writing, but overall, it was smothered by his constant, tangential ramblings.

As far as the story is concerned, it never really.... captivated me. I never felt dragged into the story. At all. The pacing was painfully slow, and it became more and more laborious to keep turning the pages. With regards to the characters, well, talk about one-dimensional. The dialogue of Stark in particular is horrendously repetitive, as he manages to say the EXACT SAME THING over and over again in certain scenes. No one is really 'likeable' in this book, and while I understand that that is OK, I felt next to nothing for any of the characters.

I HATE not finishing a book, I really do. I feel as though one should tough it out, and finish what you started. However, I will be breaking that sentiment with this novel. I decided to give this novel 1 star. I like to find at least some redeeming quality in a book (in this case, there were moments of excellent prose, which is probably why I continued to stick around), but in this case, it was next to impossible.

Maybe I will revisit this novel in the future. Although, it won't be for a while.

Don’t get too caught up in the belief that this book is, as the back of my copy suggests, “The definitive novel about American politics”. Oh, it’s “definitive” alright, and it’s both “American” and “politics”, but those words limit rather than describe the places this novel takes you.

First an admission on my part- there were three motivations which led me to tackle this 600 page beast: 1) It was selected as one of the monthly group reads within the Goodreads group “On the Southern Literary Trail”- come join us for more fun; 2) I found a great paperback copy at Goodwill for $1.99; 3) I had just finished Season 2 of Netflix’s Kevin Spacey production of “House of Cards”. The back cover blurb had me fooled into thinking this book would help keep those endorphins flowing until next season’s release (which isn’t till February I hear).

To that third point, the similarities are certainly there. A young, ambitious, Southern man takes the view that the best way to live out destiny is to take charge. Alter destiny, and in doing so, “create” your way in life. Just like the lead character in Netflix’s modern day political series, Willie Stark is an animal. He’s apt at finding leverage points, using others to place stresses on those weaknesses, and he’s unafraid to get his hands dirty in ways that others would view as ruthless and immoral. Both characters, during their development as young men realized that with intentional study, careful manipulation, and a willingness to embrace the less “traditional” portions of the electorate power grid (the poor and disadvantaged) they could gain influence and even power over the more “traditional” portions of the electorate power grid (the rich and powerful). But, as I said, this book isn’t about Willie Stark or his shenanigans……..it’s about the human condition.

Enter the more central character to my view of this book, Jack Burden. Jack was the product of an altogether different “rise to the top” story. His mother was “rescued” by a well-intentioned attorney representing the lumber camp she called home. The hero swept her off her feet and delivered her to a life of higher society and success. Along the way, she learned that her own influence on the world might best be leveraged using her beauty and charm. Jack was exposed to all the other “normal kids” in the neighborhood; his childhood playmates were in actuality the then Governor’s son and daughter (but I promise this book isn’t about politics).

Fast forward to Willie Stark’s life. By a chance encounter (“chance” is only accurate if you chose to believe this book is about politics), Willie Stark later employs a now post-college newsboy Jack Burden as a chief officer in his political machine. Jack is his “behind the scenes” dig up dirt man. He’s a pawn of sorts, but in the traditional way. Willie allows Jack great independence. He operates of his own free will. Cherry-picking his assignments for the most part (that point could be argued, but I see evidence that he only did what he “wanted” to do unlike some who didn’t think through their assignments of personal risk; he is certainly allowed latitude in what, how, and when he interacts with his “Boss” . Along the way, Jack is forced to confront his own past, his present, and his future.
So, if it isn’t about politics, what is it about you ask?

Well......there are broad themes of humanity; good versus evil (and whether that’s even possible), how our destiny can’t be made so much as it plays out according to some cosmic (not Godly) “Twitch”; but neither of those concepts prevail in the end.

It’s my thought that the closing of the book holds its secret. The original “rescuer” I referenced above, the attorney turned perhaps nutcase evangelist turned care giver turned care receiver surmises after much thought what in my view Warren might have intended the entire book to question. That thought then overpowers the other thoughts put to the test earlier in the text; Burden (interesting name choice) is quoted in the closing line of the book in a way I think points to that very possibility. The dictation that the quotes surmises that God..........well, I had better stop there so I don't spoil the surprise.

I have several quotes from this book which will make it to my profile page, but not in the review itself. I instead will leave you with two other “quotes” from works that I had no idea would work their way into my brain when I started into this “House of Cards” book. Most readers will not see the connections, but this is my review, and I see them, so read all three books and see where it takes you:

n  “I am the chosen of the Lord, for who He loveth, so doeth He chastiseth. But I be durn if He dont take some curious ways to show it, seems like”n – William Faulkner in As I Lay Dying

Lastly, and it pains me to put quotation marks around anything Cormac-

n  “To watch these things issuing from the otherwise mute pastoral morning is a man at the barn door. He is small, unclean, unshaven. He moves in the dry chaff among the dust and slats of sunlight with a constrained truculence. Saxon and Celtic bloods. A child of God much like yourself perhaps.”n –Cormac McCarthy in Child of God

I read that President Obama considers AtKM one of his favorite books. n  The Power and the Gloryn is also on the list, and Graham Greene changed my life. Surely, that endorsement could not be misguided.

I hated AtKM. Hated. Hated every moment. I preserved because I bought the book (it was a kindle daily deal), and I kept hoping that it would get better. It got worse.
The book is laden with metaphors and drawn out images. I never thought that I would be annoyed by a book that shows, not tells, but the descriptions were so drawn out, so lengthy, so numerous, and often so unnecessary, that they detracted from the book. I don’t deny that they set a scene:

It looked like those farmhouses you ride by in the country in the middle of the afternoon, with the chickens under the trees and the dog asleep, and you know the only person in the house is the woman who has finished washing up the dishes and has swept the kitchen and has gone upstairs to lie down for half an hour and has pulled off her dress and kicked off her shoes and is lying there on her back on the bed in the shadowy room with her eyes closed and a strand of her hair still matted down on her forehead with perspiration. She listens to the flies cruising around the room, then she listens to your motor getting big out on the road, then it shrinks off into the distance, and she listens to the flies. That was the kind of house it was.

…. What were we talking about?
The woman does not exist in the book. She is just a tool for the description of a kind of house and the countryside. I love Clark Kent, and I have fantasies of moving to Smallville, and I want to live exactly that sort of life. But, tell me, would you read a book wherein every grain of sand is compared at length to something else? It is tedious. The descriptions were so lengthy and diversionary that, often, I forgot what Warren said before the description began.
Not that there is much of a story to tell. Willie Stark is a minor character. The back cover blurb (do they do back cover blurbs anymore?) says that the book is about the political career of Stark. AtKM is actually about the narrator, Jack Burden, wandering around the unnamed, oh-so-secret State, and droning ad nauseam about the people he meets, people during the Civil War, and his super creepy love affair when he was a college student. I’m not sure what the purpose of the book is.

And that’s really all I have to say: I don’t know what the purpose of All the King’s Men is.