THE WHISPERING LAND

There's a moment in this enchanting audiobook that displays narrator Rupert Degas's talent to the full. It occurs when the naturalist author is at a cocktail party in Buenos Aires and has to talk to a pompous Englishman whose dismissive attitude towards Argentinians offends the young Durrell. Degas imitates this Brit's accent in such a fine tone that it sounds like he is talking through cotton balls. Degas's delivery in this scene and throughout this magical mystery tour of Patagonia and other remote parts of Argentina enthralls the listener. The young Durrell, who continues to collect animals for his Channel Isle zoo, is a most engaging Englishman--articulate, eccentric, and focused on his animals--be they toucans, coatimundis, or peccaries. And he is great fun. A.D.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2019]