The Pale King: An Unfinished Novel

by David Foster Wallace

Book Overview

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...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316074225
• ISBN13: 9780316074223
• Release Date: April 2012
• Publisher: Back Bay Books
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.48 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.8" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Finding Meaning in the Mundane

David Foster Wallace was a literary genius, gifted with the ability to delve deep into the complex inner lives of his characters. But his brilliance goes beyond mere storytelling. With surgical precision, Wallace constructs a captivating map of the human experience, revealing that our true connection to the world lies not in grandiose moments, but in the countless, seemingly unimportant tasks that fill our days. In "The Pale King," he challenges our perception of heroism by shining a spotlight on none other than IRS agents. Yes, you read that right. According to Wallace, these unsung heroes navigate the mundane realities of modern life with relentless efficiency, performing the overlooked tasks that keep our world in order. Cleaning, feeding, nursing, accounting – these seemingly trivial activities are the very fabric of our existence. They may go unnoticed and unappreciated by some, even resented by others, but in Wallace's world, the mundane is the true hero. Life is found in the everyday, my friends. Embrace it!