Colleen McCullough's homage to PRIDE AND PREJUDICE is either dastardly or delicious, depending on your Austen loyalty. There should be no argument, however, over Jen Taylor's captivating narration. Her portrayal of Mary is spot-on. In this “sequel,” the formerly bookish and shy Bennet sister blossoms twenty years later, throws off the protection of Darcy, and sets out to call attention to the plight of England's poor. The other sisters—Lizzie, Jane, Kitty, and Lydia—end up supporting Mary (or just end up) as she establishes model orphanages. Along the way, Mary falls in love with the deliciously Scottish Angus; encounters a highwayman; and is imprisoned by a crazy prophet—all memorably voiced. This is still upper-class nineteenth-century England, and Taylor's tone reflects it. An altogether entertaining listening experience.
Pub Date: Jan. 6, 2009
Duration: 13 hrs, 45 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
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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