THE MAYOR OF CASTERBRIDGE

What can anyone say of Flo Gibson reading Thomas Hardy but "Bravo!" She is a master of accents, from Scots to the West Country Hardy knew so well. As is true of most of Gibson's work, the narrative proceeds at an efficient, comfortable clip. Something of her maternal calm frames the story, as in the opening paragraphs, when the protagonists are seen making their way along a country road, ". . . plainly, but not ill-clad. . . ." Hardy's sense of the tragic foreshadows these early descriptions, and Gibson's firm voice is its counterpoint. An excellent treatment of a brilliant novel. V.H. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: MAR 95]