MARY TOFT; OR, THE RABBIT QUEEN

Narrator Susan Lyons creates the perfect aura of dreamlike uncertainty to ensnare the listener in this work of historical fiction. Based on the eighteenth-century hoax of Mary Toft, who supposedly gave birth to rabbits, the story unwinds in deliberate moments of action interspersed with philosophical discussions on faith, skepticism, science, and the existence of the Divine. Lyons paces her narration perfectly, making the buildup to the apparent miracle and its unraveling equally tense. She creates appealing voices for the main characters, especially for John Howard, Mary's first surgeon-midwife, and his young apprentice, Zachary. Lyons uses Zachary's wistful, innocent tones as a counterpoint to the greed and self-interest found among many who were drawn in by this fascinating falsehood. N.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2020]