THE SHADOW OF VESUVIUS A Life of Pliny

This biography of Pliny the Younger, with many references to his uncle, Pliny the Elder, interposes episodes from his life, such as the eruption of Vesuvius, rather than telling a chronological story. That approach gives a full but rather foggy sense of his life in ancient Rome. Mike Grady's narration takes the listener past the book's limitations. His intelligence and sensitivity go beyond the basics of a clear, incisive voice, a British accent, and good pacing. He reads in a kind of confidential tone, as if speaking of personal matters with care and consideration, all of which engage the listener. Beyond that, he gives an elegiac sense to this story of a life now long gone, making this audiobook affecting as well as informative. W.M. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: MARCH 2020]