THE DARK FLOOD RISES

This masterly novel by the great English author Margaret Drabble is beautifully served by Anna Bentinck's low-key and sensitive performance, which permits the book's language and meaning to shine. Ostensibly about Fran, a "woman of a certain age" who assesses sheltered housing for the elderly, and her relationships with friends, relatives, and acquaintances, the novel is a consideration of the choices we make in youth and age, and a paean to surviving those choices--including how to make one's way through being old. It's a lovely, considered novel for listeners of all ages. When needed, Bentinck gives unique voices to different characters, but it's mostly her rhythm, pacing, and audible love of the book that make her performance glow. A.C.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2017]