Erin Bennett's voice is lovely, and she delivers this gossipy study of addiction and pathology with thoughtful sympathy. The material, harvested from in-depth biographies and memoirs by others, is predictably shocking, given the marriages the author chose, and is often fascinating, especially if you are more interested in spectacle than illumination. Radclyffe Hall, Kingsley Amis, Alberto Moravia and Elsa Morante, Kenneth Tynan, and Roald Dahl and Patricia Neal provide the specimens, and all are unhappy in their own ways. In some cases, the wives are artists in their own rights though it's pathologies more than art that link these couples. The writing is sometimes clunky, but Bennett is excellent at subtly indicating changes of voice. Occasional mispronunciations of proper names distract, but only a little.
Pub Date: Feb. 7, 2023
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9780063294233
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Manchester’s incisive writing and Parker’s friendly narration make this a compelling package on the life of 20th century icon General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964). No student of modern times can ignore this vain, mercurial soldier whose battlefield brilliance conserved the lives of his soldiers even as they cut their opponents to ribbons. Listening to Parker, one imagines a jovial uncle delivering a slap on the back and sitting down to describe war experiences in a rich voice filled with humor and pathos. He pronounces Japanese names, New Guinea cities and American slang with effortless ease. The “you-are-there” quality grabs and holds. This is a carefully done, seamless audio presentation.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Belfast-born Gareth Russell's rich accent adds ambiance to this engaging biography of Scotland's James VI and England's James I. Despite the suggestive title, Russell's well-researched narrative covers all aspects of James' life and his place among the Stuart rulers who preceded and followed him. James' private inclinations have been known for centuries, and a significant feature here is Russell's balance and restraint. James' belief in witches counts against him more than his errant sex life, and his faults are outweighed by his devotion to his family and to the business of the state. James sponsored Shakespeare and the English Bible and--for better or worse--the foundations of an ocean empire. Russell, an amiable, unpretentious narrator, tells James' story with ease and insight.
Pub Date: Dec. 2, 2025
Duration: 16 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668100486
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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