One hundred years ago this September, a hurricane blew Galveston, Texas, apart, drowning at least 6000 citizens. U.S. Weather Bureau Station Chief Isaac Cline believed that the city was not in the natural path of storms of deadly strength. Larson's account vividly reconstructs the sights, sounds, and smells of turn-of-the-century Galveston from contemporary letters, diaries, journals, telegrams, photographs, and victim lists to examine the tragic consequences of Cline's misjudgment. Richard Davidson resists presenting the pre-storm context in a naïve tone, but reads throughout with appropriate expressions of imminent danger and, later, of catastrophe. Davidson's sense of measured concern helps pace the listener through some eccentric detail to bring out Larson's thoroughly researched account. A bonus cassette contains an upbeat and informative interview with the author, who discusses, among other things, his technique for turning plausible inferences from primary sources into a unique brand of journalistic history.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2000
Duration: 9 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781490648538
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Carol Matthau epitomizes a glamour and lifestyle not associated with the 1990's. Here is a life of privilege, tragedy and worry about what friends would think of her new frock or lover. Matthau possesses a voice and delivery that simply could not be improved on. In her coy whisper, she tells compelling stories involving everyone from William Saroyan (husband #1) and Truman Capote to Carson McCullers, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Walter Matthau (husband #2). This excellent audio presentation will leave you wanting to read the entire book to discover what juicy tidbits were left out.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 3 hrs
Publisher: The Publishing Mills
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.
Women are routinely missing from American history texts. This audiobook seeks to remedy that. Journalist O’Donnell’s TV-honed voice carries the stories in compelling fashion. Dozens of overlooked heroines are profiled, such as Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved woman who filed a lawsuit to obtain her freedom, or Emily Warren Roebling, an engineer who saved the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband fell ill. The writing style is straightforward and narrative-based, making it easy for listeners to follow. O’Donnell varies her tone to suit the material, reflecting intensity, disbelief, humor, and admiration. The sketches are generally short, making this a perfect audiobook for people with short windows of opportunity for listening.
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217176236
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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