Jacques Roy’s nuanced performance of Higginbotham’s harrowing audiobook keeps listeners deeply engaged. In 1986, the Russian nuclear plant at Chernobyl failed. The result was a disaster of a global scale, with the details surrounding the event unclear until now. Many characters are involved up and down the chain of command—from the technical staff at the plant all the way up to President Gorbachev. Higginbotham’s detailed account of the moment-to-moment events of the disaster are engrossing, including the decisions not to evacuate the surrounding city right away up through eventual plans to seal off the site by any means necessary. Roy’s masterful narration enhances this stark and terrifying account of one of the worst disasters in human history.
Pub Date: 2019
Duration: 14 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781508278511
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
GENERAL HISTORY | MODERN | WORLD | HISTORY
If you associate the Jane Austen you learned about in school with the words "prim" and "proper," then you need to listen to what one of the leading scholars of Austen's work has to say about the famous writer. This audiobook, which covers Austen's full body of work--the early short stories, as well as the published novels--adds greatly to the existing literature around the mystery of her persona. Marisa Calin's pleasant British accent is perfect for this exploration of Regency-era social codes and wild-hearted women. The pacing slows a bit in the last third as Looser tracks Austen's reputation into contemporary discourse, but Calin's buoyant narration maintains an informative and utterly joyful audio experience.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781250418753
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Never underestimate the value of a pleasing voice, especially when the subject is history--in particular, a topic as obtuse as the English Civil War. Mark Meadows's light British accent is an enhancement and a defining feature of this well-told narrative, a sequel of sorts to Oxford scholar Jonathan Healey's THE BLAZING WORLD. That narrative surveyed the entire revolutionary 17th century in Britain. This one focuses on a few momentous months when King Charles I and his Parliament split irrevocably, and England spiraled into civil war. As a case study in government deadlock and division, these events draw numerous parallels to contemporary scenarios. As an audiobook experience, Meadows delivers a lucid, arresting analysis of the how and why of England's most tragic era.
Pub Date: 2025
Duration: 13 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217165612
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
