THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY

Richard Armitage is an excellent choice of narrator for this celebration of the famed British author's work. His deep, resonant voice meanders through the stories of seven different people in the small English town of Chawton. These characters share various individual struggles in their own lives, along with a love of the work of Jane Austen. With his crisp delivery and agile pacing, Armitage makes this easy to listen to, but the number of characters can make following their stories confusing at times. There are moments, too, when his portrayals of female characters' voices sound awkward and forced. All in all, though, this appealing audiobook makes for a great casual listen, especially for those familiar with Austen's work. L.B.F. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2020]