Book Discussion of Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize Winning Novel All the King's Men at WKCTC

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PADUCAH, KY (10/08/2018) West Kentucky Community and Technical College is hosting a free, hour-long book discussion on Robert Penn Warren's Pulitzer Prize winning novel All the King's Men October 24 beginning at 11 a.m. in the college's Matheson Library.

The event is hosted by Murray State University faculty member and scholar Constance Alexander. WKCTC is one of 25 sites across the state of Kentucky hosting a book discussion for All the King's Men.

First published in 1946, winning the Pulitzer Prize a year later, All the King's Men is rated as the 36th greatest novel of the 20th century by Modern Library, and it was chosen as one of Time Magazine's 100 best novels since 1923. The book was adapted for film in 1949 and 2006. The 1949 version won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

"We are thrilled to partner with Constance Alexander and to be a part of Kentucky Reads' discussion of this amazing book, a wonderful project that spreads all across the state," said Amy Sullivan, WKCTC Matheson Library director.

All the King's Men portrays the dramatic political rise and governorship of Willie Stark, a cynical populist in the American South during the 1930s. The novel is narrated by Jack Burden, a political reporter who comes to work as Governor Stark's right-hand man. The course of Stark's career is interwoven with Jack Burden's life story and philosophical reflections. Warren claimed that All the King's Men was "never intended to be a book about politics."

The book discussion is part of Kentucky Humanities' statewide literacy initiative, Kentucky Reads, whereby All the King's Men is being used to guide a statewide conversation on contemporary populism and political discourse, and their relationship to journalism. For more information on Kentucky Reads and events taking place across Kentucky, visit kyhumanities.org.

For more information on the book discussion, contact Amy Sullivan at amy.sullivan@kctcs.edu or 270-534-3171.