TOULOUSE-LAUTREC: A LIFE

Dwarfism was the most telling detail in the life of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who was of noble birth and died in 1901 at 36. The other was his innovative work, which drew upon the seamy underworld of Montmartre brothels and cabarets and incorporated the new styles and techniques that also inspired Degas, Monet, van Gogh and Gauguin. Kimberly Schraf's reading is straightforward. At times, her voice seems too sweet to speak for this witty, debauched, profoundly complex man. But she's good at distinguishing between characters--especially between Henri and his dominating mother, Adele--and gliding fluently from English into the many French names and phrases. J.H.L. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPT 96]