AN UNOFFICIAL ROSE

Christopher Cazenove portrays grieving husband Hugh Peronet with English propriety as he attends his wife's funeral. Each sentence of the pastor's resounding eulogy sparks a new trip down memory lane for Peronet. His memories contrast sharply with the idealized relationship spoken of, as he reflects on previous marital affairs. Flashbacks are necessary to understand the plot and characters, but they disrupt the story, which is made up of an intricate web of complex relationships. Cazenove does an excellent job with European, Irish, and English accents, and with the male gender, but he reads the female parts unadorned. The story is not fast paced, but is filled with complicated relationships and ends with a surprising twist. G.D.W. (c) AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/ JAN 02]