BENEATH THE LION'S GAZE

In the events following the 1974 Ethiopian coup, a doctor is taken prisoner by the new government, and a young revolutionary faces the anger of his friends and neighbors. The simple grace of Steven Crossley's voice puts the emphasis on the lives and moral elements depicted in Maaza Mengiste's novel. However, the brutality of the communist revolution—with its torture, executions, and terror becoming a part of daily Ethiopian life—will hit listeners hard. Crossley powerfully delivers Mengiste's descriptions and insights into the decisions Ethiopians had to make as they faced oppression. In particular, Crossley’s performance enhances the novel’s blend of elegance and violence, a combination that brings this tragic historic event alive in a way that headlines and history books cannot. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2010]