A CONFEDERACY OF DUNCES

In this Pulitzer Prize-winning tale, a giant adult brat in New Orleans is so monstrously self-absorbed, opinionated and cocksure of himself as to create hilarious mayhem wherever he goes. Barrett Whitener strikes just the right note of Rabelaisian iconoclasm. He does justice, not only to each memorably drawn character, but also to the witty, elegant writing. Alas, he falters a bit on the humor; as the novel progresses, one detects a hint of fatigue in his voice, or at least a waning of invention. As good as Whitener is, this is a book that yields its treasures best on the printed page. Y.R. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAR/APR 98]