CALL THE MIDWIFE: SHADOWS OF THE WORKHOUSE

Nicola Barber's rich English accent captivates from the opening lines of Worth's second memoir of life in London's slums just after WWII. Listeners familiar with the popular PBS series of the same name will recognize people and events--and with plenty of extra detail, this audiobook offers wide appeal to newcomers as well. Barber delivers all the author's compassion, frustration, and humor in a genuine, convincing manner. She effectively differentiates characters through shifts in diction and tone, a highlight being her delivery of the Cockney speech unique to this area. There's less about midwifery here than in the televised version,but this is still a moving and memorable account of a special time and place. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2014]