THE DRESS LODGER

The dress lodger is a poor prostitute (Gustine) who rents an elegant dress to attract a better clientele. Gustine is followed by a one-eyed woman to ensure that she doesn't make off with the dress. The appalling living conditions and struggle to survive industrial England are brilliantly captured by Holman. Narrator Nadia May is at her best as she narrates this bizarre story with appropriate irony and even humor. Most horrifying is the unblinking view of early medicine and the need to supply corpses to medical schools. These interesting, distressing, and realistic views of some aspects of history are seldom dealt with as directly. A stunning experience for appropriate listeners. S.G.B. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]