ROBINSON CRUSOE

DVD Bookshelf has created a well-designed and creative format for experiencing classic literature. As you insert the disc into a computer's DVD drive or a home DVD player, a book appears on the screen, superimposed on a background of desert island flotsam. The pages turn with Dick Hill's reading, frequently accompanied by classic illustrations by Godwin, Paget, and Wyeth. Dick Hill is among the best voices in the industry, but his clipped reading comes across as a confused blend of faux-British and American articulation that is a far cry from the Yorkshire accent of the lead character. The story is told from the point of view of Crusoe, recalling his adventures later in life, as well as from the journals he kept during his twenty-eight-year stay on the desert island. While Hill's wizened interpretation may be an accurate depiction of an aged hero, it lacks the energy that one gets from the story itself. Nevertheless, taken as an entire package, this production provides a flexible and educational way to experience this classic. S.E.S. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2010]