by Jonathan Raban ; read by David Case ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 1999
When it came out in print, the critics "lavished" faint praise on this extended rumination on the Montana/Dakota boom and bust of the first 30 years of our century. This reviewer must bestow the same upon narrator David Case. British, like the author, Case convincingly delivers the regional idiom when quoting indigenous characters. His narration, however, is dry, even effete; whereas, the author is committed, even fascinated.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1999
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Books on Tape
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
by Carol Matthau ; read by Carol Matthau ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
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
by Jeff Jarvis ; read by Jeff Jarvis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 20, 2026
The Gilded Age race to invent automated typesetting was packed with colorful characters and grim reversals of fortune.
Awards & Accolades
Our Verdict
GET IT
Energy more than artistry propels this rich and thoroughly engrossing history of automated printing and its impact on modern media. Author Jarvis isn’t the smoothest of narrators, but his enthusiastic delivery heightens the narrative. And what he delivers sounds very much like a gold rush tale. Setting type remained the final, seemingly impossible step in automating the printing process, and many failures preceded the successful Linotype, which remained the standard for decades thereafter. Mark Twain’s losses after he invested in a competitor are lamentable, but they’re merely tangential to the far more interesting stories of those who succeeded.
The Gilded Age race to invent automated typesetting was packed with colorful characters and grim reversals of fortune.Pub Date: Aug. 20, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 15 mins
DD ISBN: 9798216477341
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Review Posted Online: Sept. 1, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Trouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.