THE GREAT DEPRESSION: A DIARY

Son Daniel Roth publishes the diary of his father, Benjamin Roth, who wrote, lived, and worked in the midst of the Great Depression. The record begins in mid-1931 and ends in December of 1941. The father reveals himself as a Republican, an isolationist, and a lawyer. He reports on the disappearance of the gold standard, the plummeting price of commodities, and his fear of socialism under the New Deal. Between the lines, one can sense his increasing despondency as his earning power deteriorates. Narrator Mike Chamberlain reads with a rote recitation of dates and paragraphs composed without formality. Only once does he interpret a quote with characterization. Editors' notes appear randomly among the journal entries, but Chamberlain fails to help listeners distinguish between the author and editors. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2010]