THE EUROPEANS

Narrator Adam Sims expertly guides the listener through the complex relationships Henry James sets up when European cousins Eugenia and Felix come to America to meet their relations. Sims's soft cadence couples well with James's prose, and his vocal characterizations distinguish the characters clearly. He captures the European brother and sister especially well. Felix's delightful French accent and enthusiastic tone emphasize his apparent lightheartedness--he always sounds as if he is smiling. Eugenia's slight accent and offhand way of speaking make her sound not only false but also somewhat sinister. Sims creates a contrast between the Europeans and the earnest American characters. He navigates prose and dialogue with apparent ease, and his narration makes for a well-paced experience of the novel. D.M.W. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2018]