THE LAMBS OF LONDON

Lovers of English literary history will delight in the cast of characters in this classy historical novella. Alcoholic essayist and poet Charles Lamb and his matricidal sister, Mary, co-wrote the classic TALES FROM SHAKESPEARE. Teenaged forger William Henry Ireland’s phony Shakespearean tragedy was mounted as authentic at Drury Lane. Madness, scandal, murder, and Shakespeare--it’s all fine fodder for fiction, at least in the adept hands of author Ackroyd, ably abetted by narrator Alex Jennings. With considerable discipline and grace, Jennings produces all the atmosphere of the age and place, and, like the author, emphasizes characterization and motivation. No false moment mars his performance, even when, infrequently, the author stumbles. Jennings makes Ireland and the Lambs pitiably flawed, even tragic, worthies. A delight from beginning to end. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/ NOV 06]