A TREASURY OF ROYAL SCANDALS

This volume of tabloid history relates the more notorious sins, crimes, and peccadilloes of various popes and nobles. The language is lively without actually being salacious, meant to amuse rather than incite. The author's liberal quotes from period documents give his page-turner authenticity and personality. Narrator Johnny Heller sounds as if he's doing a voice-over for a reality TV show, tastefully omitting the customary smirk. The sharpness of his high voice is blunted somewhat by his occasional lapses in diction. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 02]