THE TURN OF THE SCREW

Anne Flosnik's soft voice leads listeners into a novel of Victorian England that is unlike those of contemporary literature. The obtuse language and structure might leave contemporary readers bewildered. Highly developed characters appear with Henry James's signature style, which provides illuminating social commentary on politics, class, and status. Flosnik assumes the upper- and lower-class accents of nineteenth-century England, delivering the different voices with the rendition of a theatrical performance—even crying a little now and then. The plot—seemingly inconsequential—appears slowly from a fog of ideas. The adept narrator exploits the beauty of language from a complex thinker who elaborates his characters using interior monologues and points of view. Readers, beware—this is not an easy listen. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2009]