ISLAND BENEATH THE SEA

This story of prostitution, colonialism, and a woman’s quest to live independently is told with feeling by S. Epatha Merkerson. Her slightly deep voice lends the novel a mythical quality, illustrating the spirit of the times in the late eighteenth century. Merkerson deals adeptly with the French names scattered throughout the text without breaking the rhythm of the story. She also varies her pace, speeding up and slowing down to indicate shifts in viewpoint from female to male characters. The different emphases also ensure that listeners can differentiate the wide-ranging cast throughout the span of the story, which includes two main characters as well as several who appear only in brief scenes. M.R. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2010]