Philip Stevens admirably narrates this often acerbic, quite witty, and always trenchant audiobook. His smooth style amplifies the accomplishment of Reynolds's revisionist text, which argues that no matter what timeframe one examines--the past, present, or future--Brexit has put the archipelago of islands that is the UK in a muddle. He almost gleefully handles the ironic tone that pervades this takedown of the British penchant for exceptionalism in their histories and their longing for the old-time maritime days. Stevens's high British intonation shapes the author's edgy toppling of myth and mythmakers by examining Churchill's racist attitude toward the Commonwealth and Theresa May's mishandling of Brexit and by dismissing Boris Johnson as more entertainer than leader. Reynolds asserts that Great Britain needs to look at its history through new lenses.
Pub Date: March 24, 2020
Duration: 9 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781549103704
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A story of survival through unthinkable tragedy that the wistful little girl in the portrait could never have imagined.
Narrator Jenn Lee brings a storyteller’s flair to this true saga of the Renoir portrait La Petite Irène, painted in 1880 and stolen by the Nazis during WWII. Irène Cahen d’Anvers was the daughter of a wealthy Jewish banking family who were targeted and destroyed during the occupation of Paris. But Irène survived by changing her religion and remarrying, eventually recovering the painting. The survival story of the portrait is equally dramatic and full of twists and turns in the world of underground art dealings. Lee’s talent for French is evident in her pronunciation of names, locales, and expressions, adding a vivid sense of place and atmosphere.
A story of survival through unthinkable tragedy that the wistful little girl in the portrait could never have imagined.Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 51 mins
DD ISBN: 9781668659656
Publisher: Hachette Audio
Review Posted Online: today
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
A troubled history haunted by discord, imperialist blunders, and heartbreaking might-have-beens.
A steady voice is required for tracking the past century and a quarter of turmoil in the Middle East. With restraint and composure, British narrator Leighton Pugh unravels a knot of ancient rivalries and long-lasting violence that defies all efforts at peacemaking. Montefiore’s narrative is excellent—succinct, accessible, and providing insight into character and motive. With the awful fatefulness of Greek tragedy, Pugh’s narration follows the sequence of events that led to the creation of borders that served foreign interests but ignored historical boundaries. Sadder still are the decisions not made and the solutions that might have worked.
A troubled history haunted by discord, imperialist blunders, and heartbreaking might-have-beens.Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2026
Duration: 20 hrs, 10 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340194
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: tomorrow
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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