RUSSKA

What a pleasant way to learn history! Rutherfurd takes us back to the year 900 and illustrates the creation of Russia's complex population through fictional characters, their lifestyles andhardships. Ten centuries of historical facts are all in place, but the fictional thread makes the saga comprehensible. The effects of tyranny are easier to understand when they relate to ordinary people. Nadia May brings her usual expertise to the reading of this immense opus. Slight inflections emphasize distinctive characterizations. Her musical voice allows the listener to enjoy the story while absorbing the history and geography of Mother Russia. J.P. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 95]