Professor Fromkin uses four biographies to tell his story: that of Edward VII of England; Edward's mother, Queen Victoria; his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany; and Theodore Roosevelt. He ties the principals together by weighing their influence in a 1906 conference at Algeciras, Spain, convened to determine the fate of Morocco. The events of this period presaged WW I. Narrator Paul Boehmer shows his linguistic skill with the occasional French and German he must perform. He chooses a relaxed tempo that allows listeners to assimilate the abundant historical detail, and he uses a conversational style to add some spark to an otherwise dull rhetoric. Unfortunately, Boehmer misses many opportunities to use an appropriate foreign accent to distinguish the abundant quotes by non-native English speakers.
Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2008
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Tantor Media
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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