THE DEVIL KNOWS HOW TO RIDE

Edward Clarke Quantrill, quiet schoolteacher and Confederate soldier, led bands of guerrillas, mainly in Kansas and Missouri, and became one of the most feared and notorious figures of the Civil War. Leslie’s meticulous biography provides a compelling portrait of this brilliant tactician. John Lescault’s reading is clear and precise; it overcomes some of the problems that can beset narrated nonfiction. He clearly differentiates quoted passages by changing tone and tempo slightly. He wisely avoids dialects or accents but consistently provides the appropriate emotional shading--from the accounts of terrible suffering to those illustrating camaraderie and commitment to a cause. This is a story that would seem unbelievable if written as fiction and that, thanks to the talents of author and narrator, will leave listeners intrigued. M.A.M. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]