Was Coco Chanel a Nazi agent? The now familiar story of the French waif who became the goddess of haute couture takes on new dimensions in Hal Vaughan’s pointed research. One of Chanel’s many lovers was a Nazi “master spy" who reported directly to Joseph Goebbels. Chanel herself was arrested and labeled a spy, although she avoided official punishment. Mark Deakins delivers the preface, providing a surprising overview of Chanel and her crowd—their excesses, their snobbery, their bed-hopping, and their politics. Susan Denaker narrates in a cultured, easy-to-listen-to voice. She portrays a Chanel who is homophobic, addicted to morphine, fiercely anti-Semitic, and able to beguile and confound the men she encounters. While some of Vaughan’s allegations lack substantial support, the listening is fascinating.
Pub Date: Aug. 16, 2011
Duration: 8 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9780307969200
Publisher: Random House Audio
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
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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