The Greatest Gift

This holiday morsel is the original story that inspired the film "It's a Wonderful Life." If you've seen the beloved Christmastime staple, the story might feel a bit slight and underdeveloped in comparison, but it's still a pleasure to hear, thanks to Edward Herrmann's warm narration. Herrmann never goes so far as to imitate, but his voice nonetheless has the occasional hint of Jimmy Stewart in it as he recounts the tale of George Bailey, a man so fed up with his life that he wishes he'd never been born--and then gets what he asked for. Listeners, on the other hand, might just find themselves yearning for the cozy small-town life that Herrmann's voice conjures up. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine