THE SURGEON'S MATE

Tim Piggott-Smith is a marvelous narrator, and here he performs splendidly one of the Aubrey/Maturin sea stories by the late Patrick O'Brian. Captain Aubrey and surgeon Maturin are headed home to England after a successful espionage caper in the U.S., but they find the resentful Yankees close on their heels. A marvelous, long chase scene punctuates this book and provides enough action to please the most jaded listener. Piggott-Smith reads with British accents that are serious, expressive, precise, easy, and convincing. He is acting, but there is little flamboyance, a lot of persuasiveness. Well done! D.R.W. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 02]