GODDESS OF ANARCHY The Life and Times of Lucy Parsons, American Radical

Narrator Nylsa Smallwood's bright, resolute voice fits the author's robust writing and the pugnacious personality of this audiobook's subject. Lucy Parsons was born a slave, but she didn't fight solely for African-American rights. Instead, she advocated for First Amendment rights for all people, espousing violence, radicalism, and socialism to stamp out the evils of industrial capitalism. She married a man who was also involved in radical politics. She reminds us that change is messy and unpopular, but it's necessary for democracy to move forward. This is Parsons's life, and a fascinating one it is. Smallwood sounds like she's reading the book rather than telling the story. Varying her tone and slowing her pace would have helped. Nonetheless, her crystal-clear diction helps to move the story along. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2018]