WOODY GUTHRIE An Intimate Life

Jeff Zinn's narration, weathered yet poised, is spiritually fitting for Stadler's audiobook on Woody Guthrie, a man whose complicated life does not wholly reflect his legend as a traveling folk hero. One case in point: Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" is probably his most popular work, yet the song in full is often edited, removing lines critical of America's policies. In this vein, Stadler's audiobook deconstructs the myth of Woody Guthrie as a progressive wanderer, presenting instead a creative yet flawed man who constantly sought intellectual meaning in intimate relationships, and who continued to write while struggling with Huntington's disease. Zinn's presentation is crisp and measured, a perfect alignment to provide listeners a view of Guthrie's fascinating and tragic life. S.P.C. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]