Tropic of Capricorn

Campbell Scott might possibly be a narrative dead-ringer for the eponymous protagonist in Henry Miller's semi-autobiographical TROPIC OF CAPRICORN. Scott's dry, languorous, and lovely voice, which he uses for most of this book, hits all of Miller's cynical but observant notes as he describes the great muddle and mess of humanity around him in New York City during the 1920s. Most of the time Scott sounds almost apathetic, mimicking the distant, disenchanted tone of Miller. Yet, besides all the derogatory adjectives that can be thrown at Miller--misogynist, misanthrope, depressed artist--the writer was also ebullient, mystical, and euphoric. Scott, however, captures this side of Miller barely at all, to the detriment of this production. R.L.G. (c) AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine