THE IRON FACADE

Prudence Dudley, burned by her choice of men, seeks to change her fate by moving to a remote village. There she's drawn to the unhappy McVeigh family as an unwilling observer until she is required to play a major role. Although Somerville's voice reflects the heroine's youth, she tends to whine. Her narration doesn't reflect the class distinction the narrative often refers to, detracting sharply from the overall effect. Cookson uses conversation as a mainstay, yet Somerville is unable to produce enough vocal variety to distinguish each character, making the dialogue difficult to follow. S.J.L. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR 95]