David Povall offers an intelligent, listenable reading of this re-revisionist biography of Captain Robert Scott’s fatal race to the South Pole. Present-day explorer Ranulph Fiennes has an ego the size of the Pole that he, too, has crossed. (As he explains many times, only HE knows the Antarctic well enough to be able to write an accurate Scott biography.) Fiennes seeks to reinstate Scott as a tragic hero rather than an incompetent amateur. To do this, he blends reminiscences of his own Pole crossings with an account of Scott’s attempt. The results are mixed--sometimes infuriating, sometimes believable, always interesting. David Povall reads the history sections in an engaged, well-paced manner that never loses the listener, and he offers an intense but not-too-dramatic rendition of Scott’s travails. Perfect for history buffs and armchair adventurers.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 16 hrs, 15 mins
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Karen Chilton's fluid alto is a good fit for this biography of Thomas Jefferson. The authors are more or less successful in their attempt to present the third president in the context of his times. What we are presented with is a very human being--possessing great intellect, filled with flaws and contradictions, and still immensely fascinating nearly three centuries after his birth. Chilton's pacing and inflection are never off. She narrates with a calm demeanor, competently affecting various accents for quotes and ably giving subtle expression to the narrative. It all adds up to an enjoyable listening experience.
Pub Date: Feb. 4, 2016
Duration: 14 hrs, 30 mins
DD ISBN: 9781501909993
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
It's hard to imagine that the horror of 9/11 took place within a window of a mere 102 minutes, but indeed it was so. Be prepared for harrowing and heroic accounts gleaned from every possible source--phone messages, police and fire department communications, personal accounts, even the media--delineating the details at Ground Zero. Reader Ron McLarty handles the job with strong characterizations and the intensity the material demands. Listeners will find it hard to turn away from the nightmare but will find redemption in some of the stories of self-sacrifice that saved many lives. D.J.B. 2006 Audie Award Finalist © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 2004
Duration: 6 hrs
Publisher: Harper Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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