The Pale King
The Pale King by David Foster Wallace, published by Little, Brown on April 10, 2012, is a reprint edition comprising 592 pages. This work delves into the lives of agents at the IRS Regional Examination Center in Peoria, Illinois, as seen through the eyes of new trainee David Foster Wallace. The narrative explores the mundane and often tedious routines of IRS employees, highlighting the diverse personalities that inhabit this unusual workplace.
Readers will encounter a unique examination of themes related to boredom, work, and the human experience. The story unfolds in a setting where the characters grapple with profound questions about life’s meaning and societal values, all while navigating the challenges posed by their environment. Although unfinished at the time of Wallace’s passing, The Pale King presents an original perspective on heroism and the complexities of modern existence, showcasing the author’s distinctive narrative style and insight.
Official synopsis Publisher
The agents at the IRS Regional Examination Center in Peoria, Illinois, appear ordinary enough to newly arrived trainee David Foster Wallace. But as he immerses himself in a routine so tedious and repetitive that new employees receive boredom-survival training, he learns of the extraordinary variety of personalities drawn to this strange calling. And he has arrived at a moment when forces within the IRS are plotting to eliminate even what little humanity and dignity the work still has.
The Pale King remained unfinished at the time of David Foster Wallace’s death, but it is a deeply compelling and satisfying novel, hilarious and fearless and as original as anything Wallace ever undertook. It grapples directly with ultimate questions–questions of life’s meaning and of the value of work and society–through characters imagined with the interior force and generosity that were Wallace’s unique gifts. Along the way it suggests a new idea of heroism and commands infinite respect for one of the most daring writers of our time.
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