PARADISE LOST

Satan makes some bold moves: combating heaven, corrupting humanity, that sort of thing. Recording Milton's monumental prose poem also takes guts. With clear, flowing enunciation Albert Hartley lifts stilted language to almost conversational accessibility. He tames difficult names and speech patterns. Hartley doesn't master every intention in the stylized syntax, but generally he conveys the tome's meaning well, especially in the later passages. By not dramatizing character voices, Hartley avoids the risk of sounding hokey but misses an opportunity. Hartley provides clarity if not dazzle. D.J. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB 97]