THE BRIDE'S FAREWELL

Susan Duerden's soft tones contrast with a harsh world that abounds with poverty and insensitivity to the hard luck of women and needy children. Sometime in the 1850s in rural England, Pell Ridley flees from home on the morning of her wedding. As she looks for a place to belong, Duerden articulates Pell’s desire for a better life as well as her appreciation of the grace of horses, the loyalty of dogs, and the sweetness of the younger siblings she cares for. Duerden gives her character an outer toughness that measures her courage and determination as she encounters a myriad of rough, uncaring characters, who are also believably depicted. Overall, Duerden's narration successfully balances the difficult circumstances of Pell’s life with evocative descriptions of the story's setting and believable portrayals of the kinder souls who cross her path. S.W. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2009]