Blessed with a fine and resonant voice, James Fouhey eloquently performs this revisionist history. His clear tone and thoughtful pace enrich the portraits of unsung activists and pioneering thinkers in this compelling audiobook. Cultural historian Gaines upends the bland decade of the fifties by revealing the "underground history" that spawned the gay and Civil Rights movements and the roots of feminism and ecology. He profiles Harry Hay, founder of the pro-gay rights Mettachine Society; Robert F. Williams, who led armed Black WWII vets against KKK attacks; Fanny Lou Hamer, the extraordinarily brave leader who exemplified the importance of Black women in the movement; Gerda Lerner, the Austrian refugee who helped found women's history; and the insightful Rachel Carson, whose pioneering work, SILENT SPRING, spawned the environmental awakening.
Pub Date: Feb. 8, 2022
Duration: 8 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9781797137360
Publisher: Simon & Schuster 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
As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, it’s enlightening to look back at how the country celebrated its...
The Great Centennial Exhibition was designed to celebrate a century of U.S. history and progress and to make a statement that the country was a technological and diplomatic world leader as the globe looked toward the 20th century. Author Bordewich frames his chronicle of the exhibition by focusing on four key figures—President Rutherford B. Hayes; Alexander Graham Bell; railroad magnate Tom Scott, who spearheaded the fair; and sculptor Edmonia Lewis, whose work broke racial and gender barriers. Narrator Sean Patrick Hopkins’ conversational tone perfectly suits the material. He adds a bit of lilt for humorous and ironic passages. His pace makes it easy to follow the material, and the author’s writing style adapts well to audio.
As America celebrates its semiquincentennial, it’s enlightening to look back at how the country celebrated its centennial.Pub Date: June 9, 2026
Duration: 8 hrs, 12 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217340187
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: June 30, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: tomorrow
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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