THE JUNGLE LAW

Victoria Vinton interweaves fact and fiction, starting with Rudyard Kipling's move to Vermont in 1892 and adding an imaginary relationship with a local boy, Joe Connelly, to explore the birth of the Mowgli tales. Henry Strozier's performance has the sound and tone of a documentary. His strong unemotional reading adds credibility to the fictional elements, making them believable. While 26-year-old Kipling and his wife settle in Vermont to await the birth of their first child, he is also nurturing the seed of the story of Mowgli in his fertile imagination. Vinton's tale may well send you looking for a more complete biography of this fascinating literary giant. N.E.M. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/ MAY 06]