COUSIN BETTE

While it was written in 1846, this novel gets a modern vibe with Lucy Scott's narration. Yet she remains true to the original text, and something in this combination lends this audiobook a timeless air. The titular cousin is aging and unmarried--an unthinkable status in Post-Napoleonic France--and her simmering resentment fuels the intrigue that permeates the story. Scott's pacing and accents are reliable and listener friendly. There is an initial adjustment period, as there is with many audiobooks of classics like this, but Scott's patient interpretation secures the listener's engagement. Her distinct character voices enliven the dialogue, and subtle vocal twists capture the snippets of irony and social commentary. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2021]