JACK LONDON An American Life

At the height of his popularity at the beginning of the twentieth century, Jack London was the highest paid author in the United States. Narrator Michael Prichard's low, foreboding voice creates an atmosphere that both reinforces and undermines this story of London's life. London was a contradiction and a great artist who was uniquely American. His early life suggested that he would be drawn to raw adventure, and many of his most well-known works (CALL OF THE WILD, WHITE FANG, and more) bear that out. Prichard's pacing and diction allow us to hear each word clearly, but his tone doesn't reflect the joy and adventure that infused the hallmarks of London's life. He delivers those passages well but doesn't vary his delivery enough for listeners to experience the emotions of London's uplifting experiences. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2014]