YOUNG MEN IN SPATS

The 11 stories in this collection are classic Wodehouse. This means they are hysterically funny, but his writing style places special demands on a reader. Can a narrator deliver silly names like Cyril (Barmy) Fotheringay Phipps with a straight face? With gusto even? Can the distinct accents of the different British classes be mastered? Regional dialects? Happily, the answer to each of these is yes, due to Jonathan Cecil's masterful narration. More than a reading, Cecil delivers what seems to be a full cast performance all by himself, as he shifts pace, tone, even breath quality, to bring dozens of characters to life. This recording is a rare treat. G.T.B. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]