NANA

Narrator Leighton Pugh's quietly expressive vocal style and relaxed pacing help listeners engage with Zola's naturalistic and expansive novel of avarice, poverty, and degradation among all the social classes in nineteenth-century France. Pugh capably meets the dual challenges of illuminating the novel's lush descriptive language and imbuing the large cast with rich vocal characterizations. Indeed, Pugh's talented narration creates an almost theatrical experience. The plot centers on Nana Coupeau, a prostitute who becomes an immediate sensation when she appears in a Parisian theater production despite her lack of acting or singing ability. The abundant male attention she then receives propels the story. A lengthy but transporting audio treat. M.J. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2019]