1984 & ANIMAL FARM

The well-known nightmare of 1984 is reconstructed here by the masterful Frank Muller, who employs his gift of reading each line as if it were freshly minted. The result is a fear- and pity-inducing story that rings far too true, delivered by a voice possessing real conviction. With the exception of the rhetoric that our antihero Winston Smith reads from a forbidden book, this recording manages to keep us in suspense, hoping against hope that the downtrodden will finally triumph. Patrick Tull’s rendition of the equally prescient Animal Farm is less compelling than Muller’s 1984, but a capable and professional bit of storytelling. Production values on both are more than adequate, with Muller’s gripping voice coming through with great clarity. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]