ONE MORE RIVER TO CROSS

This epic of an ex-slave's adventure in the Old West, told in prose reminiscent of the Bible, begs to be heard. Mark Hammer gives it a voice. Although he gives adequate attention to character voices, Hammer's special appeal is his unique narrative voice. He moves through this tale in a warm, gravelly rumble, which always remains agile enough for humor and irony. (One could wish that he were more facile with the Spanish.) The well-shaped ten-minute chapters of this recording are like potato chips--ranch-style, of course--one keeps reaching into the bag for just one more. J.N. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JAN 98]