A CHILD OF THE JAGO

This 1894 work by which its Victorian author is chiefly remembered concerns the degenerate condition of London's mean streets. Although Morrison styled his novel as realistic, it strikes moderns as sensational and turgid, a precursor to Upton Sinclair's THE JUNGLE, published only 11 years later. On this hissy tape, Peter Joyce narrates with righteous indignation and gives the characters an unctuous Dickensian quality. While the latter may not properly represent the author's intention, it does provide color that a more subdued approach would lack. In the end, the audio version is more satisfying than the relic it is based on. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/MAR 01]