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Book Review
Classic American Short Stories
Stories by Bierce, Crane,
Twain, London and O' Henry
Read by William Roberts
Naxos Audiobooks NA221212 2CDs 155m DDD
ISBN 9626342129
American literature has been coming into its own of late, what with several poems receiving plaudits in Naxos' 'Classic American Poetry' and the release of such classics as 'Uncle Tom's Cabin'. This collection reveals some of the more remote parts of American literature that are quite chillingly read by William Roberts who also puts on an ideal accent for proceedings. Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' is mysteriously constructed but the high points of the narrative are well pronounced by Roberts.
I took some time to adjust to Stephen Crane's 'The Veteran', another Civil War story that also has its moments although it does finish on a rather lower key. An old legend is the subject of Twain's 'Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County', this is a story that takes some time to develop but which definitely has all the classic elements that make this author so imaginative and indeed, deservedly popular.
Jack London's 'Brown Wolf' is another wild classic, no one could write with such feeling for the Great Plains than London. Finally, there is that doyen of short stories, the mystical O' Henry', here are five of his best contributions to the genre including, 'The Last Leaf'. Roberts goes through each story with aplomb and the suitably eerie music matches proceedings quite perfectly. In short, another little classic from the Naxos Audiobook stable.
Copyright © 2001 by Gerald Fenech.
