Cameron Stewart's crisp narration leads us into the social whirl of 1711 London and the world of Alexander Pope, a striving poet. His observations on society resulted in "The Rape of the Lock," a poem that launched his literary success. Gee's book is meticulously researched--from its details on the Catholic-Jacobite controversies to the historical personages of the time. While the writing reflects a period awash in banter and wit, the slowness of the story might frustrate some historical fiction lovers as much as it pleases others. Cameron Stewart's reading is successful except when he flies into a distracting falsetto as he delivers the dialogue of the female characters.
Pub Date: July 12, 2007
Duration: 10 hrs
Publisher: HighBridge Audio
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Ayla, one of the "others," is adopted by a clan of Neanderthal cave people. She struggles to conform to their ways, but her advanced human traits overwhelm and threaten their primitive culture in this initial installment of an immensely popular series. Although the story might benefit from abridgment, Rowena Cooper easily carries out the formidable task of enlivening the mostly silent and stereotypical characters with consistent, diverse personalities and human dimension. Through skillful phrasing and inflection, she maintains the reader's interest and suspense, especially with Ayla and her plight, throughout this rambling and imaginative story.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 22 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
This lyrical, sensual novel of woman's lot in Manchu, China, is as well researched as it is well written. Authentic in tone, it's nonetheless written for Westerners by a Western expert on China. Moreover, Susan Clark performs the demanding text superbly, with only occasional signs of fatigue. For the most part she not only sustains the quaint diction and Asian atmosphere, but also, creates whole worlds with her voice. She acts the book, rather than reads it, and, in so doing, turns a pretty trifle into a stupendous beauty.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 4 hrs, 30 mins
Publisher: Audio Literature
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
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