LETTERS FROM THE AGE OF REASON

The grimness of this novel is exacerbated by its length and Mary Peiffer's clear but unimpassioned reading. Judicious abridgment would make the pace more enjoyable, as would a more dramatic performance. For the settings of antebellum and Civil War New Orleans, New York, and London, there should be a greater variety of accents, intonation, and volume in the reading. And, while the premise of a romance between a biracial man and a white woman during the nineteenth century is an engaging concept, this novel doesn't live up to the emotional scope of the idea. Even the "happy" ending isn't worth the investment of time it takes to endure this entire tale. R.F. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]