UP FROM SLAVERY

This production offers an exemplary life in sound, with an outstanding reading by Andrew L. Barnes revealing Booker T. Washington as a sagacious American leader by any standard. From the first sentence to the last, Barnes’s deep, expressive tones mold Washington’s autobiography with a warm, stentorian resonance. In crisp and uncompromising style UP FROM SLAVERY presents a true historical overview of a period of intense cultural and racial change in our country. Washington’s wit and humility shine throughout the recording, offering an unvarnished account that can serve as a fine educational tool for schools, libraries, and students of American history and African-American culture. Barnes is a patient, thoughtful reader--his gifts make this a memorable listen. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]