ELEANORE OF AVIGNON

Saskia Maarleveld brings life to this story of plague, death, misogyny, and a gifted young midwife in Provence in 1347. Leaving midwifery to fight the plague is hard enough, but when the terrified citizens start a literal witch hunt looking for a scapegoat, Elea must save herself and her twin, Margo. Maarleveld's narration is spirited, meaningful, and skilled. With inflection and effective use of octave changes, she provides appropriate voices for the characters and brings this medieval world to life. Maarleveld manages the history and sometimes-technical medical procedures well, allowing the listener to become caught up in the drama of Elea's life. C.F. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2024]