Invisible Man

A Novel

By: Ralph Ellison

Narrated by: Joe Morton

Selected by the Modern Library as one of the 100 best novels of all time

Ralph Elllison's Invisible Man is a monumental novel, one that can well be called an epic of modern American Negro life. It is a strange story, in which many extraordinary things happen, some of them shocking and brutal, some of them pitiful and touching--yet always with elements of comedy and irony and burlesque that appear in unexpected places. It is a book that has a great deal to say and which is destined to have a great deal said about it.

After a brief prologue, the story begins with a terrifying experience of the hero's high school days, moves quickly to the campus of a Southern Negro college and then to New York's Harlem, where most of the action takes place. The many people that the hero meets in the course of his wanderings are remarkably various, complex and significant. With them he becomes involved in an amazing series of adventures, in which he is sometimes befriended but more often deceived and betrayed--as much by himself and his own illusions as by the duplicity of the blindness of others.

Invisible Man is not only a great triumph of storytelling and characterization; it is a profound and uncompromising interpretation of the Negro's anomalous position in American society.

Critic reviews

"A book of the very first order, a superb book." —Saul Bellow

This Great American Novel

Joe Morton lives and breathes this wonderful look into the life of an exceptional American who tells a story of life in this country. We couldn't have had a better, more passionate narrator.

Ellison delivers to us a rare glimpse into the lives of those who truly depict the soul of America and the state of the country in all its savage complexity and psychopathic depravity. The man with no name is all of us. Ellison says, in one book, what many great novelists take their entire careers to say. This is America at the crossroads and at the beginning of modern American civil rights.

It's a great book and a superb production.

Incredible Narration

Hands down the best narrator on audible and a phenomenal book. Can't recommend highly enough.

What a Joy.

For some reason I was suppose to have read this book in High School but I don't remember anything about it. But listing to the great read by Joe Morton was like having the best seats while watching a memorable play.

Timely and timeless tale

I initially thought this was a book from the 60s and the civil rights movement. Then I learned it was from the 50s during the time of Marxist sympathies. However most of the stories read like they’ve come off today’s headlines. This is an amazing narration of an incredible book.

Absolutely loved it.

So thought provoking! His 'rambling on' Really got me thinking. It took me a good two weeks after numerous breaks, but I could listen hours at a time.

Riveting Story

I've never read anything by Ralph Ellison before, and this was so good that I'm eager to read or listen to more. There was a frankness of the African American plight that we must never forget - this invisibility that he talks of, prejudice, and racism. And as we start 2017 we as a society have not fixed these problems even if they're a little lessened. This seems an important work of fiction and I'm glad to have listened to such a well narrated version.

The best of Audible to Date

Everyone born in the USA should read this book. Its a superb description of the state and condition of blacks in the USA. Although it's more than 60 years old this book is just as relevant now as when it was written. Joe Morton's performance was superb. He masterfully breathed life into each of the characters and narrated the book as if he were the author. I will listen again and look for other books that utilize his talent.

Walking a Pastry

A poignant story of summer romance on Nantucket Island in 1943. While the war grinds on Millie and Mark are drawn together by a passion they cannot control or extinguish. Roger returns, wounded and adrift (the 'invisible man' in the tale) who is brought back to life by Betty (a low-born but lovely and caring local townie).

Fantastic, Great Narration

Fantastic Book, Great Story That Should be Shared by people of all ages. A good history of what life was like.

ln visible Man

I have never read anything quite like that, it was very entertaining and the narration was great. I think anyone who has not read this book should read it . It is a wonderful story about the struggles of the black man and how we as any minority can feel invisible if no one hears our cry for justice, great story