All the King's Men

More than just a classic political novel, Warren-s tale of power and corruption in the Depression-era South is a sustained meditation on the unforeseen consequences of every human act, the vexing connectedness of all people and the possibility-it-s not much of one-of goodness in a sinful world. Willie Stark, Warren-s lightly disguised version of Huey Long, the one time Lou More than just a classic political novel, Warren-s tale of power and corruption in the Depression-era South is a sustained meditation on the unforeseen consequences of every human act, the vexing connectedness of all people and the possibility-it-s not much of one-of goodness in a sinful world. Willie Stark, Warren-s lightly disguised version of Huey Long, the one time Louisiana strongman/governor, begins as a genuine tribune of the people and ends as a murderous populist demagogue.

Jack Burden is his press agent, who carries out the boss-s orders, first without objection, then in the face of his own increasingly troubled conscience. And the politics? For Warren, that-s simply the arena most likely to prove that man is a fallen creature.

Which it does.