THE MAGIC ARMY

This English novel, not yet published in America, depicts a little-known chapter in World War II when American troops took over a part of South Devon to train for the Normandy invasion. Multiple storylines make for an engrossing presentation, creating a compassionate picture of wartime training and romance, English resentment of rich Americans, and the politics of multinational armies. Peter Whitman's strength is his thoughtful delivery and his appropriate and consistent portrayal of male characters. While he's generally well-tuned to his text, his superficial and inconsistent interpretation of female characters detracts from an otherwise competent production. S.K. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG 94]