This audiobook chronicles the battles freed slaves faced as they sought to exercise their new rights after the Civil War. Of particular menace was the recently created Ku Klux Klan. Federal efforts to thwart the Klan were led by the Secret Service and its controversial leader, Hiram Whitley--"the man who masterminded America's first war on terror." Jonathan Yen is an engaging narrator. His warm voice suits the material, which has more the tone of a story than a history. The audiobook is extensively researched, but the level of detail occasionally creates a challenge. Listeners are left wondering what some points have to do with the overall thrust of the work. The pace of later chapters quickens, making listening more pleasurable and easier to follow.
Pub Date: April 9, 2019
Duration: 10 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781488205798
Publisher: Harlequin Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
James Michener tells the real stories behind the man and his books. The recording is read with skill and consistency although the reader does little to enhance the robust, larger-than-life incidents related in the book. Due to the first-person narrative format, there is no opportunity for the narrator to change his voice. This makes some chapters monotonous as they go on and on in the typical Michener style. The listener may also become confused because the stories are not told chronologically. This is not a great choice for the audio format, but Michener fans may stick with it to the end.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
In a quest for a sense of inner contentment and self-worth, Gloria Steinem brings the reader on a journey of investigation and discovery. Steinem reads the text herself in a straightforward and friendly, but not intimate, presentation which is so easy to listen to it invites repetition--thus ensuring the painless relearning of the lessons of the book. It's difficult to tell from the reading that this audiobook is abridged; each section can stand alone. Nonetheless, the listener wished the book were unabridged. Steinem left me wanting to learn more.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: Dove Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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