PAPILLON

From one audiobook to another, George Guidall somehow convinces us that each new narration is actually his own story. Here, as the innocent Papillon is unjustly condemned to life in a brutal penal colony, he once again saturates the character's words with his own humanity. Guidall's Papillon is highly sympathetic, yet tough enough to wage his relentless, fierce struggle for freedom and respect. The last tape and a half have a somewhat flatter quality than the rest, as if recorded with a slightly inferior microphone. Nevertheless, Guidall's smooth blend of charm and grittiness, along with a natural sense of timing, makes him the perfect guide for this stirring adventure. D.J. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JUN/JUL 98]