UNDER WESTERN EYES

David Horovitch's performance has a professorial quality that suits this novel well. It's the early 20th century, and Razumov, a Russian student, becomes a revolutionary, reluctantly turning to life as a spy. Horovitch's deep voice and regal phrasing make Conrad's complex syntax accessible to listeners. Themes of betrayal, identity, and freedom all take part in the development of the novel, and their timelessness will appeal to a varied audience. For some, Conrad's work is easier to absorb on the page, where it can be readily reexamined, but many will enjoy hearing his rich writing style come alive in this fine audiobook. Majestic and deliberate, Horovitch's delivery has a formality that commands attention. K.L.L. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2025]