ETHAN FROME

Nathan Osgood doesn't quite do justice to Edith Wharton's wonderful novel. The brief work relates the tragic life of a young Massachusetts farmer unhappily married to Zeena, a whining hypochondriac. When Ethan falls in love with Zeena's vivacious cousin, Mattie, the two are unable to act on their feelings and impulsively attempt a suicide that leaves them both maimed. Osgood's narration is confident enough and his gentle voice nicely suits Ethan's character, but his interpretation of Zeena is simply not miserable enough. He also ignores cues in the text so that when Wharton indicates that dialogue is "stammered," or spoken "solemnly" or "flatly," Osgood makes no adjustment in his delivery. D.B. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 98]