OUR FIRST REVOLUTION The Remarkable British Upheaval That Inspired America's Founding Fathers

Stephen Hoye begins this history of the 1688 ouster of King James II and the elevation of William and Mary to the throne in his usual drawling, lilting manner. While suitable for dramatic fiction, this style only makes it harder to follow the complexities of seventeenth-century English and European political history. Fortunately, Hoye reads more crisply as he goes on. He keeps the pacing good, and his timbre is pleasing. Eventually even a listener unfamiliar with the period will catch on to the various players. There is a lot to be learned here, and some interesting ideas; listeners may have a hard time initially, but it's worthwhile to persevere. W.M. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 08]