SPECIMEN DAYS JOURNAL

Specimen Days Journal, which was originally written as a preface to Leaves of Grass, offers a lively look at nineteeth-century Americana. As a two-cassette abridgment, this version works well, showing consistency and textual integrity. Production quality is good, with sound both audible and clear. Narrator Riggenbach guides this historical and biographical tour with a steady, hospitable hand. His vocal performance is itself all-American, with an open candor which personifies the nation's early charm and innocence. Riggenbach adds a spark of fun to the work while staying true to the author's intent. From brief meetings with figures like Edgar Alan Poe, to a personal narrative of the Civil War, this audio warms and interests the listener. J.S.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 95]