A Man in Full

By: Tom Wolfe

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

Length: 35 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

The setting is Atlanta, Georgia - a racially mixed, late-century boomtown full of fresh wealth and wily politicians. The protagonist is Charles Croker, once a college football star, now a late-middle-aged Atlanta conglomerate king whose outsize ego has at last hit up against reality. Charlie has a 29,000-acre quail-shooting plantation, a young and demanding second wife, and a half-empty office complex with a staggering load of debt.

Meanwhile, Conrad Hensley, idealistic young father of two, is laid off from his job at the Croker Global Foods warehouse near Oakland and finds himself spiraling into the lower depths of the American legal system.

And back in Atlanta, when star Georgia Tech running back Fareek “the Canon” Fanon, a homegrown product of the city’s slums, is accused of date-raping the daughter of a pillar of the white establishment, upscale black lawyer Roger White II is asked to represent Fanon and help keep the city’s delicate racial balance from blowing sky-high.

Networks of illegal Asian immigrants crisscrossing the continent, daily life behind bars, shady real estate syndicates - Wolfe shows us contemporary America with all the verve, wit, and insight that have made him our most admired novelist. Charlie Croker’s deliverance from his tribulations provides an unforgettable denouement to the most widely awaited, hilarious, and telling novel America has seen in ages - Tom Wolfe’s most outstanding achievement to date.

©2010 Tom Wolfe (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"The novel contains passages as powerful and as beautiful as anything written - not merely by contemporary American novelists but by any American novelist.... The book is as funny as anything Wolfe has ever written; at the same time it is also deeply, strangely affecting." (The New York Times Book Review)

"A masterpiece." (The Wall Street Journal)

"Superior...utterly engrossing." (USA Today)

Thumbs up for Prichard

I'm a big fan of Tom Wolfe, but I almost didn't listen to this book since so many reviewers found fault with the narrator. To the contrary, I thought Michael Prichard was a perfect choice. His delivery was a direct and nuanced performance. Definitely worth five stars.

suburb novel--a modern Dickens

I found this novel very entertaining. The main characters are very well drawn. The plot lines are beautifully constructed. The scenes are nicely varied (warehouse workers, prison, high society, political strategists, businessmen). There is a lot of shrewd social commentary too. The narrator is excellent. Wolfe excels at getting inside the mach male mind. The one weakness is that the few female characters are rather marginal.

What a pity!

I remember reading and enjoying this novel when it was first published, so much so that I've checked from time to time to see if Audible had produced an audiobook version. I liked the story once again, but found myself constantly having to struggle through because of Michael Pritchard's narration.

To begin with, he has a sharp tenor voice (which I don't care for) marred further by nasal delivery. Worst of all, however, the narration lacks even a semblance of vigor. If any book (and writer) needs engagement with the characters and action, this is it. Consequently Wolfe's breakneck-speed writing is mired in a slow, ponderous vocal style. Finally, there are noticeable -- and annoying -- inconsistencies in audio quality, signified by variations in voice tone and volume, which have to be attributed to inadequate attention to recording levels and/or to poor editing.

Overall, an enjoyable novel but a disappointing audiobook.

THE BEST

This probably the best audio book I have ever listened to. The story is likely to change my life. The only possible improvement would have been an outstanding reader.

Great story and great storyteller

A great work of literary fiction done justice by a charismatic and compelling narrator. Highly recommended.

Michael Pritchard

The movie adaptation of ‘The Bonfire of the Vanities’ was plagued by several problems, but the most glaring had to be the decision to (mis)cast Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis into role that would have suited the other far better. Miscasting a movie can derail it within minutes.

And now we have one of my favorite novels released, finally in unabridged form, just months after the death o the author. I haven’t listened to David Ogden Stiers’ abridged version, but can certainly imagine him having done a commendable job. I have, however, listened to ‘I Am Charlotte Simmons’ in audiobook form, and I believe Dylan Baker nailed it. It’s my favorite audiobook performance, full stop. The man took chances in his reading, completely sold out (in the good way) for the performance, and, consequently, absolutely brought the book to life for me.

So when I saw that AMIF had been released, my immediate thought, fondest hope, and most fevered audiobook wish was on the cusp of realization: Dylan Baker reading an unabridged AMIF.

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Is it Tom Hanks’ or Bruce Willis’ fault that either was miscast? Doubtful. In the same way, I can’t, don’t, and won’t ‘blame’ Michael Pritchard here. I have a few audiobooks that he has read and enjoyed them. Asking him to do this book, however, is like asking a virtuosic cellist to assume the duties of the principal clarinetist: NOT A GREAT IDEA.

This, instead of hours of delight, I found myself deep within the recesses of what-might-have-been. Again, nothing against Mr. Pritchard...not his fault, but for me, this has to be counted as a disappointment.

A radio drama

I read this book when it came out and decided to refresh my memories with the audio version. Tom Wolfe’s very visual style comes alive by Mr. Prichard’s wonderful, animated narration. It added a new dimension to the story.

Great Story, great writing, needs authenticity editing on the audiobook

The book is great. Well written an truly captures the Atlanta of the early 2000s. But the unabridged audiobook makes a few mistakes that could be excused but for the fact that it is a book ABOUT Atlanta. You would think they’d want to get things right. For example, the narrator continually pronounces DeKalb county with the hard “l” like the Illinois city, not with a silent “l” like any Atlantan would. But great story and enjoying it as I did when I first read it.

Wonderful

Addictive .... couldn’t stop listening...Comedic, suspenseful and inspirational in its own way.
I loved it!

Don’t Miss Out On This Book!

I almost didn’t get this book because of some of the negative reviews about the narrator. Personally, I thought he was fantastic! Plus, this story is top notch! I could not put it down for a second. The moment I had a free minute or two I would pop my air pods in a pickup where I left off, it was just THAT engrossing! Buy it! You won’t be disappointed!