THE FLAMING CORSAGE

In this ninth entry in the author's Albany cycle, Edward, an Irish playwright, woos and wins Katrina, of wealthy aristocratic background, despite her parents' objections. The tragedies that befall the couple and their families are chronicled in this complex story. The author reads without devising voices for the characters, and the reading of dialogue is a bit stilted, but enthusiasm and emotion are well conveyed. This is a production of "selections" from the novel; that is, complete, unedited passages bridged by summaries of the intervening events. This approach retains the beauty and power of the author's prose but sacrifices character development and a sense of having experienced the novel's whole story. M.A.M. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: NOV/DEC 96]