THE MUSHROOM HUNTERS On the Trail of an Underground America

The thrill of the wild mushroom hunt is audible in Kevin Free's performance of this exposé. Amateur mushroom forager Langdon Cook fearlessly delves into forest depths and follows seaside trails seeking the ideal patch of wild umami treasures: morels, chanterelles, porcini, hedgehogs, lobster, and other fungi perfecti. He connects with eccentric, uncultivated, and dedicated foragers, a mysterious and elusive subculture. Listeners gain respect for the mushroom harvesters as Cook learns about their relationship with nature and the broad environs they traverse. Cook's exquisite descriptive writing, bordering on the lyrical, inspires Free's voluptuous narration, which immerses the listener in the delectable lore and science of edible fungi. A.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2013]