MIDNIGHT DIARIES

The former Russian president here gives his apologia, which, however self-serving, can only shed light on the history we have all lived through. The audio's success comes from the casting of John Randolph Jones. He has the maturity in his voice to give a reasonable impression of the aging and ailing Yeltsin. He possesses the artistic tact to read intelligently but neutrally. It would be so easy (and must have been a sore temptation) to color the lines with a subjective interpretation of the author's character. To err in the other direction would be deadly dull. Jones walks a fine line that allows listeners to draw their own conclusions. Y.R. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]