THE BALLAD OF PECKHAM RYE

Spark’s 1960 satirical novel is given a fresh reading by Nick Rawlinson. This is a curious novel, and Rawlinson’s reading walks carefully between performance and narration. Most surprising is Rawlinson’s protean ability to flip between Irish and Scottish accents. This is a challenging novel, as Spark allows the audience plenty of latitude in deciding on the true character of Dougal Douglas. Rawlinson’s rapid delivery moves the story along quickly, sometimes too quickly for Spark’s dry British wit to fully bloom. This recording is a fine introduction to the canon of Muriel Spark and stands on its own as an unusual but engaging piece of modern fiction. R.F. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]