The Pale King
The Pale King
Book Brief
592
Novel • Fiction
Peoria, Illinois • 1980s
2011
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Pale King by David Foster Wallace follows the lives of IRS workers in the 1980s as they navigate the challenges of bureaucracy. The narrative is non-linear and includes stream-of-consciousness thoughts, personal narratives, and detailed descriptions of IRS procedures. Wallace himself appears in the book, blending fiction and memoir elements. Sensitive topics include sexual assault and substance use.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Challenging
Melancholic
Informative
Reviews & Readership
19,477 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Pale King by David Foster Wallace is a posthumous, unfinished work that delves into the monotony of office life with remarkable depth. Reviews praise its profound exploration of boredom and existential reflection, though some find its fragmented structure challenging and its unfinished nature unsatisfying. Overall, a thought-provoking, if incomplete, narrative.
Who Should Read The Pale King?
Readers who would enjoy The Pale King by David Foster Wallace are likely introspective, patient, and fond of postmodern literature. They appreciate intricate narratives, deep character studies, and themes of bureaucracy and boredom. Fans of Infinite Jest or Thomas Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow may also find it compelling.
19,477 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Pale King, released in 2011, is an unfinished novel by David Foster Wallace that was published posthumously, assembled from a stack of manuscripts and notes found after Wallace's death in 2008.
The manuscript of The Pale King was shortlisted for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and though no award was given that year, it was recognized along with two other novels.
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David Foster Wallace's extensive research for The Pale King led him to take accounting classes to better understand the intricacies of the Internal Revenue Service, a central element in the novel.
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592
Novel • Fiction
Peoria, Illinois • 1980s
2011
Adult
18+ years
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