As Mauro reads his history of the 1939 New York City World’s Fair, listeners will experience the magnificence of this amazing cultural event. Mauro takes his time developing the subplots detailed in the subtitle; first, listeners hear about the conception, creation, and completion of the buildings and monuments of the fair. Grover Whalen spent years raising funds and creating a magnificent view of the future at Flushing Meadows Park. But the best-laid plans don’t necessarily guarantee success. Mauro brings the dreams, hopes, and failures of the fair to life, with the Great Depression in the background and war in Europe looming ahead. Mauro’s cultured voice brings to life the excitement and tension of a remarkable event and period.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2010
Duration: 12 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780307737434
Publisher: Random House Audio
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
More than 35 hours long, this comprehensive biography of Random House founder Bennett Cerf is equal to a workweek for many listeners. Cerf nurtured a roster of the 20th century's most consequential authors and was nationally known as a television panelist. His story is a fascinating panorama of American arts and society over 50 years, scrupulously researched but overburdened and slow. Listeners who've never heard of William Styron or Dorothy Kilgallen or the Famous Writers School will be fully educated here. Narrator Lisa Flanagan keeps a steady, unfussy pace that carries her listeners over the longueurs. But hers is a channel swim rather than a leisurely stroll through Central Park. This paunchy biography needed a stronger editorial hand.
Pub Date: Jan. 13, 2026
Duration: 35 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217346448
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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