PATRIOTIC FIRE Andrew Jackson and Jean Laffite at the Battle of New Orleans

For Winston Groom, the Battle of New Orleans is part of family history; he opens by sharing what he found in the papers of his ancestor, Major Elijah Montgomery, a hero in the conflict. From there, the personal story becomes a grander canvas as Groom tells the story of Andrew Jackson and Jean Laffite, who shared a love of America despite their different backgrounds. Grover Gardner reads with the urgent tones of a radio announcer, seeming a bit too impersonal early on but making the action and the drama seem more real as the scope expands. With the real-life heroes whose stories Groom rediscovers, a long-forgotten battle comes to life. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 06/ JAN 07]