THE SERGEANT'S TALE

In 1947 Palestine is ruled by the British Mandate, and the underground group, the Irgun, is railing against the occupation. David Millar, a British sergeant, has been transferred to intelligence, and shortly after his transfer he meets and falls in love with Hannah. David is the son of a Jewish mother and a Catholic father, and his allegiance to his background is tested. As the story is violent, it is a jolt to hear the narrator give forth in a luxurious radio announcer voice. Stephen Greif has a majestic rolling baritone with basso profundo undertones. Some of those very low tones, along with the words they color, are lost to the human ear, causing the listener to have to try harder than the reader. However, Grief’s accents are splendid, and when he relies on the excitement of the story, he catches our attention. J.P. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 05]