Orlando

Originally written in the late 1920's, Orlando is the fascinating and fantastic tale of an aristocratic writer and observer whose life spans several centuries. This complex story of androgyny is marvelously narrated by Laura Paton. Her velvet voice lusciously conveys Woolf's lavish and sensual prose. This audiobook is performed with unusual clarity due to Paton's unhurried delivery. Her measured, careful pace makes each word stand out. She's an excellent storyteller and her well-crafted performance makes this an outstanding listening experience. Selections from Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven and Ravel add to the enjoyment. A.A.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Clare Higgins's supple, silky voice does justice to Woolf's literary landmark. The language of Orlando, peppered with alliterative phrases, flows effortlessly with perfect pacing by Higgins, and Woolf's dry wit shines through her performance. As the character of Orlando changes genders and situations through the centuries, the story is sustained by Higgins's fluid reading. While an enhanced experiment in gender identity is the focus of the story, the star of this recording is Woolf's language. The combination of her words and Higgins's voice is an ideal convergence. The rich descriptions of Orlando's surroundings linger pleasantly in the listener's ears. R.F. Winner of AUDIOFILE Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

Woolf's vivid fantasy spins out in dulcet tones as Swinton brings the beautiful, 300-year-old Orlando to life. Wealthy and elegant, he stumbles through the Elizabethan age, then transmutes into the cheroot-smoking lady of the Victorian era and thence to Thursday, October 11, 1928. All the while, Orlando carefully preserves and improves upon the manuscript that represents the paths of English literature. Being prose in its most grandiloquent dress, this book graciously renders itself to reading aloud. The sentences are a joy, and Swinton presents them as such, delicately phrasing and warmly caressing the wit and soul of each. S.B.S. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Virginia Woolf's extraordinary novel translates beautifully to audio. In a crisp, sonorous British voice Barbara Rosenblat spins the fantastic tale of Orlando. The narrator is Orlando's biographer, who has consulted historical documents to fully recount the title character's life and times, which span 400 years and Orlando's change of sex. Rosenblat consistently maintains her strong, captivating narrative, delivering Woolf's hyperbole, irony and digressions effectively. Though the work has little dialogue, Rosenblat artfully creates distinct characters. The absence of sound effects or music does not mar the recording. A brief, introductory biography of Woolf enhances the text. J.A.H (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine