The Big Oyster

Mark Kurlansky transforms facts into fascinating historical narrative. Producer John McElroy abridges such narrative seamlessly. Tom Stechschulte reads it perfectly. A shush of waves and the cry of a seagull launch Kurlansky's tale of New York City's early history, seen through the fortunes of its most important bivalve, the oyster. It's a fascinating story of greed, gastronomy, and disastrous ecology told with Kurlansky's typical zest. Stechschulte provides telling accents for some of the historical characters; otherwise, he simply reads--reads, that is, in his scratchy, attractive voice with evident interest and exquisite pacing. This is a match between author, abridger, and narrator that will have audiobook listeners cheering. A.C.S. (c) AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine

Starred review from February 15, 2007
Few Americans realize that New York City was once a coastal paradise, with sweet breezes, shimmering marshes, and clear waters nurturing the best oysters in the world. Native Americans tossed into middens millions of discarded shells that are still being unearthed, and, until the early 1900s, oysters were the signature food of the metropolis. Kurlansky (Cod ) dishes details of social and culinary history, Colonial recipes, and anecdotes about larger-than-life oyster eaters like Diamond Jim Brady. The bounty endured for centuries, with plump, tasty, abundant, and cheap oysters nourishing the city's rich and poor every day. The dense oyster population also filtered the entire harbor of impurities. Sadly, their descendants finally succumbed to pollution, and the days of "the big oyster" have long been forgotten. John H. Mayer's timeless voice resonates as he relays Kurlansky's tale of a paradise squandered. A big, satisfying listen; highly recommended.Judith Robinson, Univ. at Buffalo

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