MASTER OF THE MOUNTAIN Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves

When overwhelming evidence emerged that Jefferson had fathered a child with one of his slaves, his reputation was tarnished, but it also allowed us the opportunity to reassess this Founder. The result is a fuller picture of a man who was a genius, an iconoclast, and, ultimately, a complicated human being. Narrator Brian Holsopple has a deep, distinctive voice that captures our attention and is easy to listen to. He has terrific diction and paces the story well, enabling us to follow the account while allowing us time to analyze what we’ve heard. Holsopple’s narrow vocal range makes him sound professorial at times. This isn’t bad, but his performance is best experienced in small, focused intervals. It might take longer to hear, but the book’s payoff is certainly worth it. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2012]