THE REEF

Like Henry James, who profoundly influenced her writing, the American novelist Edith Wharton spent most of her professional life in Europe. THE REEF exemplifies her close observation of Americans in France, their inner lives and social conflicts. Narrator Bron's precise, patrician intonations nicely reflect the narrative personality. She does only a serviceable job on descriptive passages, jumping to life in the dialogue. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 01]