Francis Chichester’s memoirs are chronicled into a diary of his twentieth- century life of travel and adventure, punctuated throughout by danger and close calls with death. He was knighted by Elizabeth II after he became the first man to circumnavigate the world alone in a 54-foot boat. Emotionally, the hero seems reptilian. For example, while Chichester is away flying, his wife dies, and the only emotion he remembers is “surprise,” because she hadn’t been sick. Christopher Kay’s upper-class British English and precise speech make him a perfect choice to create a live performance from dusty memories. The taped recordings are of low fidelity, making the sound muddy.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2002
Duration: 15 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: ISIS Audio Books /Soundings
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Reader Michael Prichard delivers a convincing rendition of Archie Goodwin, the burly right hand of the portly Nero Wolfe, world-renowned gourmand and detective. Prichard preserves the 1970s setting and 1950s origins of the story, bringing listeners a well-paced narration of murder and politics--a combination of elements that usually guarantees an exciting listen. This audio entertainment is as well formed and fragrant as one of Wolfe's hothouse orchids (the stout sleuth cultivates them by the hundreds in his town house greenhouse) as Goodwin walks us through an explosive murder investigation and political wheeling and dealing in a tough yet intelligent read.
Pub Date: Jan. 15, 2006
Duration: 5 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Partners
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This collection of eight short stories contains gentle tales of fantasy and magic--not the magic of wizards and wands, but of wishing mats and enormous cats and gifts brought by the winds. In a lovely English accent, Lizza Aiken quietly narrates these stories in which magic and good fortune often come to those who deserve it. Although her pitch changes little, she registers a range of emotions--from the sadness of a girl whose necklace of raindrops has been stolen to the joy of a child who moves from a hard life and a ramshackle trailer to a happy home amid the clouds. A NECKLACE OF RAINDROPS would make a soothing choice for a family car trip after a long day.
Ages 6+Pub Date: Jan. 5, 2016
Duration: 1 hr, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781101915721
Publisher: Listening Library
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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