THE RISE OF THEODORE ROOSEVELT

This new unabridged recording of Edmund Morris’s classic history of TR’s early years is a listening joy. Mark Deakins's rich, warm voice is clear and measured. His foreign pronunciations (in German, French, and Spanish) are careful. Overall, his narration supports Morris’s empathetic biography of this most straightforward yet enigmatic of men. When delivering quotes, like most TR readers, Deakins has some difficulty deciding whether to give the great man the voice he deserves—deep and authoritative—or the voice he actually had—abrupt and squeaky. Morris’s empathy and research continue to stand out after more than 30 years. Apparently, a movie of the book will be released in 2011. F.C. © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2010]