The talented Jonathan Yen brings warmth, intelligence, and a storytelling style to his narration of this fine cultural history of the 1930s Federal Writers Project (FWP). His folksy voice and well-paced delivery suit this focused appraisal of the people and program designed to give work—writing state guides—to broke writers. Against all odds, the series produced several hundred titles, including city guides and others, and sponsored writers from Idaho’s indefatigable Vardis Fisher to Richard Wright, Zora Neale Hurston, Nelson Algren, and John Cheever. The director, Henry Alsberg, adroitly managed the far-flung project until running afoul of the Nativist Texas congressman Martin Dies, Jr., who claimed the FWP was “promoting class hatred” and helped usher its demise. This audiobook is a well-crafted journey into our past.
Pub Date: June 15, 2021
Duration: 16 hrs
DD ISBN: 9781666105544
Publisher: Tantor Media
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
Tales of the rescued don’t diminish the sorrow for the millions lost.
Jim Meskimen’s authoritative voice and evenhandedness carry a narrative with many highs and lows and steeped in tragic irony. As Nazi attacks on Jews worsened in the 1930s, a group of poker-playing friends in Manila, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, conceived a plan to repatriate German Jews to the Philippines. Hundreds of people were subsequently saved, but antisemitism bothin the U.S. and the Philippines blocked a full effort. Most effectively, this episode offers a fresh perspective on the Pacific theater and subsequent independence of the Philippines—and on the careers of two men at the table, one of whom almost became a U.S. president, and one of whom did.
Tales of the rescued don’t diminish the sorrow for the millions lost.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2026
Duration: 11 hrs, 13 mins
DD ISBN: 9798228966093
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Review Posted Online: Aug. 18, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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