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A Confederacy of Dunces Audiobook
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(3.00) - 96,375 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize
“A masterwork . . . the novel astonishes with its inventiveness . . . it is nothing less than a grand comic fugue.”—The New York Times Book Review
A green hunting cap squeezed the top of the fleshy balloon of a head. The green earflaps, full of large ears and uncut hair and the fine bristles that grew in the ears themselves, stuck out on either side like turn signals indicating two directions at once. Full, pursed lips protruded beneath the bushy black moustache and, at their corners, sank into little folds filled with disapproval and potato chip crumbs.
So enters one of the most memorable characters in recent American fiction.
The hero of John Kennedy Toole's incomparable, Pultizer Prize–winning comic classic is one Ignatius J. Reilly, an obese, self-absorbed, hapless Don Quixote of the French Quarter, whose half-hearted attempts at employment lead to a series of wacky adventures among the lower denizens of New Orleans. This book has become an American comic masterpiece.
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"Read this one twice. There is always a new discovery to be had. Ignatius Reilly will go down as one of literature's truly messed-up characters. He is at once awful, pitiful, comical and tragic. I've heard speculation that the author patterned Ignatius after himself. If this story is at all autobiographical, then it would go a distance toward explaining the author's suicide. And the mother? Ugh."
— Kate (4 out of 5 stars)
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“An astonishingly good novel, radiant with intelligence and artful high comedy.”
— Newsweek -
“A corker, an epic comedy, a rumbling, roaring avalanche of a book.”
— Washington Post -
“The dialogue is superbly mad. You simply sweep along, unbelievably entranced.”
— Boston Globe -
“A masterwork of comedy…The novel astonishes with its inventiveness, it lives in the play of its voices.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“If a book’s price is measured against the laughs it provokes, A Confederacy of Dunces is the bargain of the year.”
— Time -
“His story bursts with wholly original characters, denizens of New Orleans’ lower depths, incredibly true-to-life dialogue, and the zaniest series of high and low comic adventures…What a delight, what a roaring, rollicking, footstomping wonder this book is! I laughed until my sides ached, and then I laughed on.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“A Confederacy of Dunces has been reviewed almost everywhere, and every reviewer has loved it. For once, everyone is right.”
— Rolling Stone -
“A brilliant and evocative novel.”
— San Francisco Chronicle -
“The episodes explode one after the other like fireworks on a story night. No doubt about it, this book is destined to become a classic.”
— Baltimore Sun -
“A masterpiece of character comedy…The novel can hardly contain burstingly funny Ignatius—and the mix of high and low comedy is almost stroboscopic: brilliant, relentless, delicious, perhaps even classic.”
— Kirkus Reviews (starred review) -
“Barrett Whitener strikes just the right note…He does justice not only to each memorably drawn character but also to the witty, elegant writing.”
— AudioFile -
“The many subplots that weave through A Confederacy of Dunces are as complicated as anything you’ll find in a Dickens novel, and just as beautifully tied together in the end.”
— Amazon.com -
“A comic masterpiece that memorably evokes the city of New Orleans…Toole’s prose is energetic.”
— Library Journal
Awards
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Winner of the 1981 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
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A 2007 KLIATT Editor’s Choice Audiobook
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The 2007 SoundCommentary.com’s The Best of the Best Editor's Choice Audiobook
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Winner of the 1981 PEN/Faulkner Award
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A Booklist Editors’ Choice
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An Audible.com Bestseller
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An Audible Editors Top Pick of Favorite Audiobooks
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An Amazon Editor’s Top Pick of Books That Almost Weren't Published
A Confederacy of Dunces Listener Reviews
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" I loved the story, the characters and it was very well narrated. "
— Alina , 12/2/2022 -
" best book ever. i have read it 3 times. "
— Cwrigh13, 2/16/2014 -
" Re-read it. Outstanding in Southern Humor literary genre. I don't much care for such things, but I recognize a commendable competency here. "
— al•veiz, 2/10/2014 -
" Coompletely enjoyed this book. It is pretty off color, but gets funnier and funnier. "
— Karen, 2/5/2014 -
" Clever but just not my type of humor. "
— Sarah, 1/23/2014 -
" A worthy read! The Characters are vivid, real, and memorable. Feels somewhat dated today. "
— Daniel, 1/21/2014 -
" Excellent descriptions and dialog. Hard for me to finish, I found it depressing. The author committed suicide after writing it. So, could be an insight into mental illness. Sorry! "
— Deb, 1/20/2014 -
" what a terrible waste of time. repeating the same five unfunny jokes over and over again. only time I liked this book was when it was over "
— Jatin, 1/17/2014 -
" One of my most favorite books of all time "
— Deanne, 1/4/2014 -
" Being from New Orleans and my Brother having quoted from this book all the time - I had to read it - and it is just incredible - worth every minute and certainly worthy of a Pulitzer as I can totally understand where the Writer is coming from - sometimes. Steve M, B.A. J.D, Author "
— Steve, 1/3/2014 -
" Read years ago and still consider it one of my favorites. Have it on my bookshelf just waiting to be reread "
— Ryan, 12/29/2013 -
" Painful. TGIF - Thank god I finished. "
— Michael, 12/27/2013 -
" Made me laugh out loud, many, many times. Sometimes all I had to do was look at the book and I would start cracking up! "
— Kate, 12/16/2013 -
" My review is probably swayed by seeing a live reading of this with Paul Rudd & Will Farrell :) "
— Heather, 12/7/2013 -
" If you like quirky, you might like this. I lived in New Orleans while I was reading this, so I dug it. Definitely not for everyone. "
— Renee, 12/3/2013 -
" Funny, absurd, engaging, quotable. The characters are vivid, and their relationships and interactions with each other are what makes the book so great. I love the ending, it is the only one that would have been acceptable. "
— Rachel, 10/4/2013 -
" I never made it to the point where I found this enjoyable. someone explain what I'm missing. "
— Alec, 6/27/2013 -
" Couldn't finish it. Hated all the characters and desperately wanted them to go away. "
— Michelle, 1/28/2013 -
" I enjoyed this book in many ways but it was hard to get into and there was lots of extraneous poorly connected musings (or did I miss the point entirely?)! "
— Rose, 1/17/2013 -
" This is one of the funniest books ever. His character portrayals are spot on and remind me of people I know. "
— Owen, 1/15/2013 -
" This author was going to be genius. RIP "
— Kara, 5/22/2012 -
" One of my favorite books ever! I have read it over and over. "
— Karen, 3/1/2012 -
" I'm sorry so many reviewers didn't appreciate this novel. I thought it was hysterical and finely crafted. "
— Sarah, 2/20/2012 -
" My all time favorite book. Ixnatious, his friends, and family...remembering it now is like remembering a visit with old friends. "
— Richard, 11/13/2011 -
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KJW, 9/5/2011
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" It's a little bit of a slow read, but it's hilarious!! I love the arguments and mannerisms. Ignatius is kind of a jerk, but he has his moments. I'm so glad my English teacher made me read this! "
— Camila, 5/21/2011 -
" Such an odd character with an interesting insight into people. "
— Mr., 5/20/2011 -
" This is the best book ever. That is all. "
— Travis7401, 5/19/2011 -
" Didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. Still worth reading, "
— Bridget, 5/18/2011 -
" Ignatius K Reilly is a hero (antihero?) without equal. All that New Orleans could and shouldn't be - right here in one book. "
— Nathan, 5/16/2011 -
" How sad that Toole committed suicide before he could realize his true potential as a writer. His cast of characters is amazing, offensive, surprising, and at times, simply hysterical. "
— Amanda, 5/14/2011 -
" I wasn't smart enough or literary enough to really get it. "
— Karakas, 5/12/2011 -
" Literally laugh out loud funny all the way through. Comic genius. "
— Matt, 5/12/2011 -
" Hilarious. Have never laughed out loud so much when reading a book! "
— Marikka, 5/12/2011
About John Kennedy Toole
John Kennedy Toole (1937–1969), a native of New Orleans, graduated from Tulane University and received a master’s degree in English from Columbia University. He taught at Hunter College, the University of Southwestern Louisiana, and Dominican College in New Orleans. After his death, his book A Confederacy of Dunceswas awarded the Pulizer Prize in Fiction in 1981.
About Barrett Whitener
Barrett Whitener has been narrating audiobooks since 1992. His recordings have won several awards, including the prestigious Audie Award and numerous Earphones Awards. AudioFile magazine has named him one of the Best Voices of the Century.