HUEY LONG

Finding insufficient material about politician Huey Long to adequately capture his past, the author sought hundreds of personal histories from family, friends, and acquaintances. They form the structure of an intimate biography, the kind to savor. Long, an unlikely mix of self-interest and altruism, led a life of scheming and intrigue worthy of becoming a novel. Many Louisianans populate the story, and Tom Weiner gives them perfect Southern accents. He mimics Martin Berman, the 1920s mayor of New Orleans: "You can make prostitution illegal in Louisiana—but you can't make it unpopular." Weiner employs a sharp, authoritative tone for Long, telling his amusing and sometimes apocryphal stories. The combination of excellent material, skillful composition, and Weiner’s engaging narration makes this audiobook easy to recommend. First published in 1969, the hardback was awarded both a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Award. J.A.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]