EDITH WHARTON

Edith Wharton was a complex and brilliant woman, as this well-reviewed biography of the famous novelist makes clear. She also traveled a lot and entertained tirelessly, when she wasn't writing. Kate Reading narrates the tour of Wharton's life with her usual excellent pacing and clear enunciation; even the many French quotes--Wharton spent much of her life in France--are perfectly pronounced. It's not a lively reading, but that may simply be because Wharton herself, or this abridgment, isn't that lively. With its emphasis on dates and events, this is a listen for someone already interested in the author, not for the casually curious. A.C.S. © AudioFile 2007, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 07]