NiCCOLò RISING

The madcap adventures of the young men associated with a wealthy dye and trading house--including the son of the widowed owner, a ribald apprentice, two notaries public and a host of bad guys--are colorfully told in a kaleidoscope of voices. Pacey's ever-changing accents and dialects give spice and even a measure of credibility to this tale of fifteenth-century merchants, bankers, petty warriors and nobility. The narration of the hilarious ride of the hero and apprentice through Bruges on an ostrich is a high point. The excellent technical quality of the recording, which one expects of Chivers, captures all the nuances of Pacey's narration. J.D.N. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: APR/MAY 96]