CATHEDRAL OF THE SEA

This sweeping historical novel set in fourteenth-century Catalonia recounts the story of Arnau Estanyol, a laborer who unwittingly becomes embroiled in social upheaval in Barcelona. Narrator Paul Michael uses a range of vaguely European-sounding accents to portray the story's nobles and peasants. His smooth pronunciation of Spanish and French names surely renders the audiobook less cumbersome than the written tome. Michael's clear, masculine voice is well suited to the extensive narrative passages describing life in medieval Barcelona: war, plague, the supremacy of the aristocracy, and the Spanish Inquisition. The tale of Arnau's lifelong search for happiness was a bestseller in Spain for more than a year. This translation is a gem, employing elegantly simple language to portray a significant era. N.M.C. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2008]