THE EYRE AFFAIR

Time-traveling special operatives, resurrected dodo pets, conspiracies involving the true authorship of Shakespeare, and accidental entry into nineteenth-century English novels are just a few of the things that seem normal after one hears this delightful story. Susan Duerden narrates with an understated British cheekiness that has one thoroughly believing in this bizarre world, as seen through the eyes of the resourceful Thursday Next. Equally strong is Duerden’s rendering of the diverse and colorful cast, including Wordsworth, Jane Eyre, and a criminal mastermind who is too clever to fit any cliché. If, for a moment, listeners think the characters step out of the audio and into their minds, well, that's just one more part of the magic. F.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2010]