Antonia Bath’s crisp and energetic reading of Andrea Wulf’s splendid history of the gardens of the Founding Fathers will enthrall even those who aren’t gardening buffs. Wulf’s approach demonstrates how a highly focused theme can illuminate a much broader landscape and how a common perspective shared by Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison shaped their idea of the new nation they were creating. Bath keeps pace with a text that is heavily factual yet elegant in its phrasing, precise but in no way pretty or pedantic. Her British inflections may seem misplaced for a text so frankly critical of British trade policy toward the struggling young republic. But Wulf is British by way of Germany, and like the figures she writes about, she speaks as a citizen of the world. For gardeners, especially, this is an excellent production.
Pub Date: March 29, 2011
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780307881212
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.
Women are routinely missing from American history texts. This audiobook seeks to remedy that. Journalist O’Donnell’s TV-honed voice carries the stories in compelling fashion. Dozens of overlooked heroines are profiled, such as Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved woman who filed a lawsuit to obtain her freedom, or Emily Warren Roebling, an engineer who saved the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband fell ill. The writing style is straightforward and narrative-based, making it easy for listeners to follow. O’Donnell varies her tone to suit the material, reflecting intensity, disbelief, humor, and admiration. The sketches are generally short, making this a perfect audiobook for people with short windows of opportunity for listening.
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217176236
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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