Eminent Victorians

First published in 1918, these brilliant, short biographies open our eyes to the failings and accomplishments of four exceptional Victorians. Strachey's eloquence, as well as his finished prose style, make these a welcome adjunct to nineteenth-century studies in audio form. Nadia May reads clearly and well. However, she also has a strict and rather daunting British schoolmarm's voice, chilly enough to make one nervous about shutting off the tape without permission. One also hopes that it is not asking too much to have books written by male authors read by men, and books by women read by women. This practice brings one closer to the text. A.D.H. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Strachey's relatively brief lives of four prominent Victorian personalities set a new tone and standard for biography: witty, honest, and not always full of praise. Jonathan Keeble's narration captures the wit, irreverence, and drama, as well as the poetry and stylishness of Strachey's prose. Even though Cardinal Manning and Dr. Arnold are mostly forgotten now (the other two subjects are Florence Nightingale and General Gordon), their lives reveal much about the Victorian era, and this audiobook brings all four subjects to life with considerable �lan. Keeble never fails to bring emotion to the text when it is called for. All in all, an admirable rendition of a fascinating book. D.M.H. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine