PROSPERO'S DAUGHTER

This variation of THE TEMPEST is ingenious and ambitious, if often unconvincing. The amoral English doctor Peter Gardner (Prospero) is so entirely wicked that it's hard to believe his daughter, Virginia (Miranda), isn't heartily sick of him by the time he has stolen young black Carlos's (Caliban) house, regularly abused Ariana (Ariel) since she was 9, and falsely accused Carlos of raping Virginia. Set on an island off Trinidad in the '60s, the book and skillful reading by Simon Vance have much to admire, but I question the choice of a male narrator altogether. This book is not titled "Prospero", or "Caliban," or written by a William--and a female narrator might have given Virginia and Ariana more (and much needed) credibility. B.G. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]