Calvert tells the story of his service under the Pacific during WWII. He was the torpedo officer aboard the U.S.S. Jack during eight combat cruises and had a reputation for being a real “crack shot.” Patrick’s reading is easy to understand and a fine match for the text. He convincingly expresses the many emotions that a crew experiences during a combat cruise--the thrill of the chase, the excitement of the captain’s descriptions of torpedo hits and sinking ships, and the tension of the officers’ discussions. The reading of how Calvert was able to avoid having an affair while on leave is done with sensitivity. Unlike many memoir writers who mainly brag and boast, Calvert is gracious in regarding the faults of others, candid in telling his own, and humble in noting his deeds. Patrick’s admirable contribution to this fine work is in bringing out this humility.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.
Matt Addis narrates Bayliss’ detailed but straightforward history of Sparta, from prehistory to the destruction of the Spartan hegemony in the 360s B.C.E., both ably and amiably. His resonant voice is likeable, if sometimes scratchy. And his manner is so thoroughly friendly that the program seems like history as narrated by a kindly uncle—but an astute one. His understanding and interpretation of the text are precise, and his tones and emphases are correct and helpful. Addis’ pacing is slightly slow, with notable pauses between text blocks, but given the complicated interurban politics of the ancient Greek city-states, moderate pacing is helpful rather than distracting.
Addis delivers a satisfying performance that will keep listeners engaged in this commendable history.Pub Date: May 19, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 27 mins
DD ISBN: 9798899749254
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2026
Kristin Atherton is the absolute right choice to narrate this riveting and complex history of the rise of global terrorism. The research provided here is ambitious, providing a clear-eyed, deeply considered history of the nature of terrorist acts, the motivations for which were hard for news broadcasts of the 1970s to fully capture. Atherton's narration never wavers as Burke covers the well-known events of airplane hijackings, the Munich Olympic attacks, and the Beirut bombings of 1983, "the bloodiest year." The result is an insightful history that gives context to events that may have seemed disparate to casual observers. Atherton maintains a comprehensive, consistent voice throughout this long, gripping audiobook.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 25 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217018796
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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