Fleming gives a brief history of American slavery and the lead-up to the Civil War, which he argues could have been avoided but for the Southern dread of a slave revolt and the Abolitionists’ intransigent hatred of Southerners. Narrator William Hughes has a genial voice, and he reads with expression and energy. But Fleming’s book is a polemic, and some of his opinions may strike listeners as controversial, questionable, or even repugnant. Hughes seems so determined to make the narration lively that he runs the danger of making Fleming sound intemperate. A sloppiness in the reading doesn’t help—Hughes pronounces all foreign words, and even some less common English words, awkwardly or incorrectly. It’s a clear rendering of the text but not a helpful or distinguished one.
Pub Date: May 7, 2013
Duration: 11 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781470897499
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
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
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.
Women are routinely missing from American history texts. This audiobook seeks to remedy that. Journalist O’Donnell’s TV-honed voice carries the stories in compelling fashion. Dozens of overlooked heroines are profiled, such as Elizabeth Freeman, an enslaved woman who filed a lawsuit to obtain her freedom, or Emily Warren Roebling, an engineer who saved the Brooklyn Bridge when her husband fell ill. The writing style is straightforward and narrative-based, making it easy for listeners to follow. O’Donnell varies her tone to suit the material, reflecting intensity, disbelief, humor, and admiration. The sketches are generally short, making this a perfect audiobook for people with short windows of opportunity for listening.
A perfect marriage of text and delivery.Pub Date: Feb. 24, 2026
Duration: 10 hrs, 37 mins
DD ISBN: 9798217176236
Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Review Posted Online: March 3, 2026
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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