The Duke of Wellington is either a great man with some outstanding flaws or a flawed man with great good luck. Hibbert prefers the former. Though the lackluster early years of Arthur Wellesley hardly hinted at the brilliant military career that outwitted Napoleon's generals in Spain and the emperor himself at Waterloo, the long political career that followed became an intriguing study in public nobility of character married to inept personal management. As he served his king, he shunned his wife. David Case's reading drips with his characteristic ennui, which unfortunately was not a characteristic of the duke. The lisp that Case affects, however, is authentic, though even that becomes a little tiresome, especially in the letters where it hardly matters. Nevertheless, he beautifully captures both the innocent humanity and sardonic nonchalance of the man.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2001
Duration: 18 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
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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