THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ

With more drive than sense, the eponymous young opportunist strives to scramble out of Montreal’s working-class Jewish quarter by hook or by crook, leaving mayhem in his wake. In spite of Duddy’s lack of scruples and (often inadvertent) cruelty, one cannot judge him irredeemable. He’s too much a bull in a china shop as limned in this closely observed and hilarious look at New World ghetto characters and values. The CBC commissioned Mordecai Richler to abridge his classic novel for this recording. And, no less than the full-length version, it’s a masterpiece--especially as read by Paul Hecht, one of North America’s top audiobook narrators. He almost sings the prose melodies of the Montreal ghetto in that magical, irresistible baritone of his. Though an overzealous producer has needlessly underscored the reading with sound effects, this is a brilliant and singularly enjoyable rendition of a twentieth-century classic. Y.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/SEP 05]