THE MIMIC MEN

Rarely do listeners encounter as unique a protagonist as Naipaul's Ralph Singh. He lives in London, though he grew up in the Caribbean and even shared ruling power for a time on the island with an Afro-Caribbean politician. Sam Dastor's strong narration enlivens Singh as he remembers his childhood and political career. Dastor ensures that Singh's disillusionment becomes evident as he returns to his politically torn island home. Dastor's low tone sometimes hovers between thoughtful and monotonous, a tone that befits Naipaul's story. Spanning 20 years as Singh travels from London to the Caribbean and back amid a failed marriage and vacillating political power, the novel examines the complicated social and ethnic struggles of its time. A.G.M. © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2017]