A Confederacy of Dunces Audiobook By John Kennedy Toole cover art

A Confederacy of Dunces

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A Confederacy of Dunces

By: John Kennedy Toole
Narrated by: Barrett Whitener
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Buy for $19.74

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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.

©1980 Thelma D. Toole (P)1997 Blackstone Audiobooks Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction World Literature Funny Witty Feel-Good Thought-Provoking

Critic reviews

"Barrett Whitener strikes just the right note." (AudioFile)

"A Confederacy of Dunces has been reviewed almost everywhere, and every reviewer has loved it. For once, everyone is right." (Rolling Stone)

"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)
Laugh-out-loud Humor • Brilliant Dialogue • Masterful Character Voices • Vivid Setting • Satisfying Conclusion

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Reading the reviews, it's obvious that not everyone gets satire. That's not a measure of intelligence, it's just like rolling your Rs--some people can, and some people can't.

This is satire. It's not funny like Jim Carey or Robin Williams or Howard Stern. It's funny like Stephen Colbert (without the political bent). You have to implicitly grasp that the characters, even the narrative, are saying one thing while meaning another.

The story is about a series of characters in New Orleans in the 60s, who are all affected by the main character, Ignatius J Reilly, and his ridiculous delusional arrogance. There seems to be little point or direction through most of the novel. Few if any of the characters are constantly endearing, and you find yourself wondering if they are aggressors, or victims, or ultimately whether there is any such thing as either. But down to the last line, the story has heart and meaning.

Throughout the main narrative you are constantly aware of minor themes accompanying the main story, some in rhythm, some following their own beat, but all connected. You will read one scene and understand, without the author mentioning it, how that scene affects everything else. It's a breathtaking example of novel writing.

And the narrator is perfect. He catches every nuance.

If you are looking for slapstick or straightforward humor, this book won't be for you. If you love satire, this is one of the best examples you'll find.

Funniest book ever, if you like satire.

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This is a superb book. Endlessly interesting characters, hilarious dialogue .... and the narration is easily one of the best performances I?ve ever encountered on audible.com.

Great Story, Great Narration

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I admit this book is not for everyone, but those who get it love it. I've read the book as well as listened to it and cannot get over the brilliance of the dialogue. I think we have all met at least one person like Ignatius in our lives. Pompus, self righteous, and completely clueless. The main character is someone only his mother could love and by the end of the book even that is in question. That's what makes this book so unique, we are not cheering for the main character. The narration was different than I had imagined in my reading, but enjoyable none the less. This is a book I buy copies of just to give to others. I love it. It is too bad it is all John Kennedy Toole left us with, but I am thankful that he did.

Brilliant

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Partner one of the best books, comedic or otherwise, ever written with stellar narration and you have the most entertaining audiobooks I have ever heard. The book has always been one of my favorites; this is the fourth time I have read it. This audio edition rivals my first reading due to the engaging reading. Pure joy!

Excellent editon takes audio books to new art form

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This is an extraordinary piece of work, easily one of the best writing performances I've read/heard in a long time. Can't remember the last time I chuckled reading something so much.

Brilliant

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No doubt about it, Ignatius takese some geting used to. But if you're a fan, you'll like this rendition of the novel. The reader is stellar, the voice characterizations are fabulous and bring the characters to life just as I imagined when I read the book the first time. At times repulsive, at others laugh out loud gut wrenchingly funny. Not for everyone one, but definitely my cup of tea. It's just a crying shame that the author wrote no other books. His death was a tragic loss to the literary world.

Incredible Ignatius Riley

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This book is fantastic. The characters are well developed and the humor is intelligent. The main character is quite obnoxious and repulsive, and you love him all the more. There is not a centralized plot, other than the life of the main character. Normally I have a hard time with a book that is just about the characters...but not this time. Give it a try for a great comedy.

Breautiful Tragedy

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Some books do not translate well into an audiobook - this is one of them. The narrator wasn't to my personal liking and I found the voices to be below par. This is a great book, but much better read than heard for some reason. Listen if you must, but pick up the book if you can.

Better Read as a Book

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I have read this great novel numerous times and thought a reading while I bike, run etc would be enjoyable. Unfortunately, this reader plays havoc with Ignatius - our industrious protagonist. He makes Ignatius sound like a community playhouse Southern General. Ruined the whole book for me... Do yourself a favor and read the novel.

Great book, poor reader...

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What a great story and unique characters. As relevant today as ever. It should be required reading for all high school students.

Fantastic!

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