The Prince of Frogtown

By: Rick Bragg

Narrated by: Rick Bragg

In this final volume of the beloved American saga that began with All Over but the Shoutin' and continued with Ava's Man, Rick Bragg closes his circle of family stories with an unforgettable tale about fathers and sons inspired by his own relationship with his 10-year-old stepson.

He learns, right from the start, that a man who chases a woman with a child is like a dog who chases a car and wins. He discovers that he is unsuited to fatherhood, unsuited to fathering this boy in particular, a boy who does not know how to throw a punch and doesn't need to; a boy accustomed to love and affection rather than violence and neglect; in short, a boy wholly unlike the child Rick once was, and who longs for a relationship with Rick that Rick hasn't the first inkling of how to embark on. With the weight of this new boy tugging at his clothes, Rick sets out to understand his father, his son, and himself.

The Prince of Frogtown documents a mesmerizing journey back in time to the lush Alabama landscape of Rick's youth, to Jacksonville's 100-year-old mill, the town's blight and salvation; and to a troubled, charismatic hustler coming of age in its shadow, Rick's father, a man bound to bring harm even to those he truly loves. And the book documents the unexpected corollary to it, the marvelous journey of Rick's later life: a journey into fatherhood, and toward a child for whom he comes to feel a devotion that staggers him.

With candor, insight, tremendous humor, and the remarkable gift for descriptive storytelling on which he made his name, Rick Bragg delivers a brilliant and moving rumination on the lives of boys and men, a poignant reflection on what it means to be a father and a son.

©2008 Rick Bragg (P)2008 Random House, Inc.

one of my very favorite authors

Rick Bragg grabs my heart and he won't let go. I am truly in love with his writing. He makes me cry, a lot, and there is the humor, all those messy emotions mushed together. Oh and the grace of his southern storytelling,in his voice.... and man, I can't get enough.
I am a southern momma; Mr Bragg knows and embraces our souls, us fragile and oh so strong mommas.
Another book please sir, soon?

A Book Worth Listening To!

I am so glad my Mother introduced me to Rick Bragg by loaning her copy of "It's All Over But The Shoutin'. I will be ordering all of his books in print as well as Audible.
I too am from Alabama and relate to his writings because I lived the same type of life.
Rick as narrator, has a clear and pleasant voice. I love his southern drawl.
Thank you, Rick for having the courage to write about your life as many of us do not.
I highly recommend this book.

The prince of literature has done it again!!!

Well told story. Rick Bragg drug my heart with him through each chapter. What a remarkable story!

Great story. Great narration.

This book was a perfect choice for a cross country road trip. Rick Bragg's family stories are wonderful.

A true treasure

Growing up in rural Alabama I can relate to a lot of the stories that Mr. Bragg speaks of. Some of these stories will make you laugh and others will break your heart. The story of the boxer dog in this story is really haunting and heartbreaking. Sometimes when you read something like this in a book it stays with you for a long time and it will take time for me to get over how cruel some people are- sometimes the worse being to your own children and animals. I hated his father after reading that . The story of the 20 dollars of child support is another part of this story that will haunt me.
I have read all of Mr. Brag’s books and they just get better . I highly recommend reading all of them .

This guy can write.

Pulitzer Prize winning author Rick Bragg is a wizard with words. The Prince of Frogtown is one of several books he wrote about his family and life growing up dirt poor in the rural south in the 50's and 60's. Author narrated, I was mesmerized by his voice. The slow southern drawl and apt description of life in a mill town was hypnotic. Totally creditworthy.

Always a pleasure

Coming to terms with who his father was, what he became and what his family and friends knew about him. all while becoming a father himself. Rick Bragg weaves a beautiful story of what it should be to be a father.

A lifetime to get told

This has so many memories of stories I’ve heard thru my early years spent with grandparents.

Another really good Bragg Book.

I've always liked Rick Bragg's work and this one doesn't disappoint. So he was a little late in growing up -- at least he's one of the few who do! Loved it (though Ava's Man will ALWAYS be my favorite).

Can't wait for another one.

Real life biography

This real life story was told so well that I just couldn’t put it down. These are simple people who will be remembered because of the written word. Pictures just can’t do this. Thank you, Rick Bragg, for sharing your family experiences with us, good and bad. We all have some of these same experiences but hesitate mentioning them for fear others will think less of us. Those of us who overcame adversity are better people because of the love and sacrifice of those before us like your mother.