NAPLES '44

Narrator Nicholas Boulton delivers these diary entries about life in Naples, Italy, in the aftermath of WWII in a straightforward journalistic style. Author Lewis, a British intelligence officer, was stationed in Naples as a linguist charged with bridging the gap between the military and civilians. He went on to become a great travel writer, and his poetic style is evident as he describes everyday events. Boulton's crisp British accent makes it feel as if the author himself is reading his own entries. With the occasional Italian-accented character and subtle variations in tone, Boulton conveys locals trying to resume normal lives amid the ruins. Lewis's anecdotes are often funny and occasionally horrific, and Boulton's earnest intensity prevails. J.E.S. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2018]