THE ART OF READING

Dr. Spurgin teaches the structure of the novel using examples from nineteenth- and twentieth-century works by authors such as Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. The topics include character, description, and style. The professor specializes in Charles Dickens and shares his expertise in detail with one of that author's finest works, GREAT EXPECTATIONS. Although his enunciation never falters, the words at the end of his sentences frequently become inaudible as he varies his volume to animate his delivery. The word "fiction" should replace "reading" in the course title, as the lectures fail to address nonfiction. Potential listeners should check the publisher's Web site to verify that the content is what they seek. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2009]