Hillary Huber's solid narration gives life to this portrait of Julia Ward Howe, best known for her poem "Battle Hymn of the Republic." But Howe's literary efforts go far beyond that work, and her life was far more complex than casual observers would think. She battled a domineering husband who squandered her inheritance and later was an active campaigner for women's suffrage. She even battled Boston society to retain her maiden name as part of her married name. Huber's voice takes on appropriate emotion, almost making listeners believe she's the poet herself, rather than someone reading a third-person biography. By varying her pace slightly throughout, she keeps the narrative flowing.
Pub Date: April 5, 2016
Duration: 10 hrs, 15 mins
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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