SPLENDIFEROUS SPEECH How Early Americans Pioneered Their Own Brand of English

This audiobook doesn't reflect the vibrancy of its premise that American English, as opposed to other forms, has a freewheeling democratic component that reflects the ease with which it incorporates new words and new usages and embraces confounding complexities. While narrator Erin Bennett has a clear, bright voice, she presents this work as an academic exercise as opposed to an audiobook intended for a general audience. Part of the issue is the author's approach, but it's up to Bennett to make the words accessible. She does pace herself well and vary her pitch, and we can hear every word. In the end, though, Bennett could have done more to engage listeners and make this audiobook more meaningful. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2019]