THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

One of the better unabridged recordings of Mark Twain’s masterpiece is on par with others vis-à-vis interpretation and excels in sheer beauty. In this impeccably quiet release, Tom Parker (aka Grover Gardner) contributes a resonant announcer’s baritone, superb technique, musical expressiveness, and a fond, intelligent understanding. He is less a narrator here than a storyteller, one of the best this reviewer has heard, sounding as if he were speaking extemporaneously. Of the half-dozen recorded renditions I’ve auditioned, this is the one that best expresses the brilliance of Twain’s rendering of dialect and a rural boy’s sensibility. A judicious use of sound processing enhances his performance. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 02/ JAN 03]