THE SHOES OF THE FISHERMAN

This 1963 work, which was also adapted for the big screen and starred Anthony Quinn, is an interesting tale of intrigue, deceit, nobility, and a yearning for the divine. In the early 1960s, when the tension of the Cold War is high, the Pope dies. His successor is an obscure Ukrainian bishop, who is also a survivor of 17 years in the Gulag. The temporal and spiritual struggles of the new Pontiff are believable and make this a most intriguing work. Paul Hecht gives a creditable performance in reading this work. His sonorous baritone has a pleasing timbre that gives his reading an aura of great seriousness, yeah, even "gravitas." His voice is clear, and he reads at good pace and with confidence. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC/JAN 01]