GULLIVER'S TRAVELS Retold for Younger Listeners

Benjamin Soames presents McMillan’s smooth abridgment of Swift’s classic adventure. Listeners will hear the flavor of Swift’s dry style in McMillan’s writing, and well-chosen vocabulary suitable to Swift’s era adds to its authenticity. Clear sentence structure and a condensed version of Swift’s often lengthy social commentary help the abridgment remain accessible to contemporary listeners. The abridgment uses short episodes to smoothly move Gulliver through his travels. Soames uses a ruminative tone as he discusses Gulliver’s experiences with imaginary cultures like Lilliput. While the story contains sophisticated elements, the fantastical creatures will keep young children interested. As Soames maintains his tempo so that listeners can easily follow Gulliver’s peregrinations, his gentle, analytical voice evokes the spirit of Swift’s original work. This thoughtful narration is a good match for such a cerebral adventure. C.A. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: OCTOBER 2012]