Inspired by Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series of sea stories, the author attempts an equivalent novel of the British land forces during the Napoleonic Wars. Eric Graham must interpret upper- and lower-class British and Irish accents, as well as French, Spanish, and German ones. Luckily for him, there is little Spanish (his worst suit), but his Prussians speaking English sound comical. However, Graham's better linguistic skills create a delightful and entertaining escape to another century in the character of Mathew Hervey, an officer in His Majesty's Sixth Light Dragoons. Both the story and the reader seem a little slow, but the attention to detail provides memorable entertainment.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Recorded Books/ Clipper
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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