WITH LEE IN VIRGINIA

George Alfred Henty was one of the most popular authors of the Victorian era. He intended his works to teach young men such virtues as industry, self-reliance, loyalty, and perseverance. This work concerns the adventures of a young Confederate officer, Vincent Wingfield, who defends his home in Virginia against what he, and his generation, saw as a foreign invasion. The author's sympathies lie with the South, and his descriptions of military affairs are not entirely accurate. Also, his characterizations of slaves are not politically correct. However, there is a lot of adventure. Jim Hodges's performance is adequate, though not distinguished. His Midwestern accent is good with narrative portions, but he continues to use the same accent for almost all the Southerners. Then he gives the African-American characters accents for their dialogue. The performance is uneven for a work that some may see as being "incorrect." However, some will just enjoy the action. M.T.F. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 01]