RASPUTIN: A Concise Biography

Two nonfiction titles from ISIS profile fascinating men of the early part of this century. Both feature literate texts, the voices of British-sounding readers, dark sound quality and sloppy edits. Martyn Read delivers FREUD as if narrating a travelogue, imposing a phony BBC accent over his cockney and mispronouncing many of the long words. Nigel Graham does far better with the "Mad Monk," scrupulously rendering the Russian names and adopting a more appropriate style for historical narration. Y.R. © AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 99]