THE NATURAL

Malamud’s remarkable first novel about the brief glory and ruin of Roy Hobbs explores the mythic world of baseball. This fine audio production retains the flavor of the world of professional sports circa 1940 though no explanation is needed for the contemporary listener. Christopher Hurt’s vaguely Midwestern voice is wonderfully matched to the characters--the seedy agents, the other players, the “dames” Roy gets involved with, the greedy owners and Roy himself. Hurt’s voice has the perfect combination of flatness and emotion common to the finest sports announcers. This production is essential for collections of serious American fiction and great baseball novels. B.V. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR 95]