THE PIRATE'S DAUGHTER

Swashbuckling matinee idol Errol Flynn finds respite and a haven from his most recent Stateside scandal in Jamaica in the mid-1940s. There he continues his "wicked, wicked ways" with Ida, a biracial teenaged girl who is besotted with the movie star. The result of their union is May—beautiful, feisty, and determined to find her place in the world. Robin Miles offers a flawless performance in this well-crafted combination of history, romance, and political upheaval. Miles flattens her lovely speaking voice in an eerie representation of Flynn, produces plummy British and harsh German inflections, and clips her tones to accommodate various classes of islanders. She creates a precise portrayal of Flynn-era decadence, a young girl's coming-of-age, and the turmoil and brutality of Jamaican politics in the '70s. S.J.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2008]