A YEAR IN THE MERDE

Stephen Clarke's delightfully funny novel is performed with élan by the talented John Lee. Englishman Paul West is hired by a French company to open a chain of tea shops. Lee is thoroughly believable as Paul speaking English-accented French and lapsing frequently into "Franglais." Lee also performs a variety of French characters who speak English, from the oily Monsieur Martin to the beguiling Florence. Each character is distinct and funny. Lee pulls off some truly unusual accents, such as that spoken by the French computer geek who learned English in the American South. Lee's comic timing is spot-on, and the plot, like a good French wine, has body, texture, and a terrific finish. R.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]