A CLOSE RUN THING

Inspired by Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin series of sea stories, the author attempts an equivalent novel of the British land forces during the Napoleonic Wars. Eric Graham must interpret upper- and lower-class British and Irish accents, as well as French, Spanish, and German ones. Luckily for him, there is little Spanish (his worst suit), but his Prussians speaking English sound comical. However, Graham's better linguistic skills create a delightful and entertaining escape to another century in the character of Mathew Hervey, an officer in His Majesty's Sixth Light Dragoons. Both the story and the reader seem a little slow, but the attention to detail provides memorable entertainment. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2001, Portland, Maine [Published: AUG/ SEP 01]