HMS BEAGLE

Even if this quite ordinary ship hadn't happened to carry the young Charles Darwin on his seminal voyage of discovery, its history would provide a fascinating snapshot of an important period in British maritime history. The text is dense in detail with a good deal of redundancy. As a general interest audiobook, it would be improved by abridgment. After a somewhat stiff opening, Stuart Langton warms to his task and gives a listenable reading with as much color and variety as the material allows. Whoever finds it necessary or convenient to listen rather than read will find this a satisfactory rendering. J.N. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 00]