Revolting Rhymes & Dirty Beasts

Stephen Mangan, Tamsin Greig, and Miriam Margolyes deliver this collection of poetry with the same wit and verve Dahl put into his words. Half the poems are fractured fairy tales, and the other half are about animals, like the one in which a boy is eaten by his pet anteater. Margolyes's performances stand out. The nasally, whiny voices she uses in Dahl's retelling of "Cinderella"--in which Cinderella winds up with a jam maker--are perfect, and she moves deftly between dialogue and narration, never missing a poetic beat. Greig and Mangan are also strong performers, bringing a sense of silly fun to their readings. Brassy transitional music completes this crowd-pleaser. A.F. (c) AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine


This book is a gem if you are any kind of Roald Dahl fan. Bringing Dahl's gruesome humor and creativity with words together with Alan Cumming's incredible Scottish accent is an exceptional combination. Cumming's pacing, easy rhythmic cadences, and vocal acrobatics enhance the poems and stories, adding a vibrancy and expression that would otherwise be lessened. His expressive performance adds to the shock of the unexpected endings, creating an unforgettable book. (Occasional language may offend--adults should listen first.) W.L.S. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine