A Man in Full

More about the book

A decade after defining an era with his previous work, Tom Wolfe returns with a masterful portrayal of America on the brink of the millennium. Set in Atlanta, Georgia—a racially diverse boomtown filled with new wealth and savvy politicians—the narrative follows Charles Croker, a former college football star turned late-middle-aged business mogul. Croker's inflated ego clashes with reality as he navigates his vast quail-shooting plantation, a demanding young wife, and a struggling office complex burdened with debt. Meanwhile, Conrad Hensley, an idealistic father laid off from Croker Global Foods, finds himself ensnared in the depths of the American legal system. The story escalates when Fareek "the Canon" Fanon, a star running back from Atlanta's slums, is accused of date-raping the daughter of a prominent white figure. Upscale black lawyer Roger White II is called to defend Fanon, tasked with maintaining the city's fragile racial equilibrium. Wolfe intricately weaves together themes of illegal immigration, life behind bars, and shady real estate dealings, delivering a vivid snapshot of contemporary America. The resolution of Charlie Croker's challenges culminates in a memorable conclusion, marking this as one of Wolfe's most significant and entertaining works to date.