Narrator James Lurie's voice is amiable and a bit sandpapery; it's especially effective in holding listener interest through specialized and sometimes marginal histories and biographies. Here he brings focus and definition to a family chronicle that's thin on drama and memorable characters but strong on social history. Over two centuries the Sassoon dynasty of Baghdadi Jews headquartered in Bombay built a vast trading empire founded on cotton and opium. The Sassoons ascended to the British peerage and even produced an important British poet, Sigfried Sassoon. Lurie smoothly assumes the persona of author Joseph Sassoon. He is not related to the Sassoon family but was given access to their archives--wherein he found this vital and consequential history.
Pub Date: Oct. 25, 2022
Duration: 13 hrs
DD ISBN: 9780593628720
Publisher: Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Manchester’s incisive writing and Parker’s friendly narration make this a compelling package on the life of 20th century icon General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964). No student of modern times can ignore this vain, mercurial soldier whose battlefield brilliance conserved the lives of his soldiers even as they cut their opponents to ribbons. Listening to Parker, one imagines a jovial uncle delivering a slap on the back and sitting down to describe war experiences in a rich voice filled with humor and pathos. He pronounces Japanese names, New Guinea cities and American slang with effortless ease. The “you-are-there” quality grabs and holds. This is a carefully done, seamless audio presentation.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 16 hrs
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Baker tells the story dispassionately; on occasion, listeners might wish for more drama.
Narrator Gabrielle Baker provides a skilled rendition of this absorbing biography of Sydney Redesdale, mother of the six Mitford sisters. With just the right plummy accent, Baker guides us through Sydney’s own youth and marriage to David Mitford (Lord Redesdale) and her subsequent trials raising six daughters and a son. While some of her children accused her of being cold, as they grew older, Sydney’s devotion and support increased to the point that sheeventually became a necessary pillar for several of them. Unity, who famously became enamored of Hitler and, in 1939, tried to kill herself when England declared war on Germany, was cared for by her mother for years afterward. Sydney was also supportive of daughter Diana when she was imprisoned as a national security risk because of her fascist politics, which mirrored Sydney’s own views and caused a permanent rift with her husband.
Baker tells the story dispassionately; on occasion, listeners might wish for more drama.Pub Date: March 3, 2026
Duration: 9 hrs, 40 mins
DD ISBN: 9798318542589
Publisher: Tantor Media
Review Posted Online: April 11, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
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
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
