A Night to Remember

The fabulous remake of the film Titanic did more than launch Leonardo DiCaprio's movie career. An amazing number of audiobooks have been released on this topic, representing a wide range of perspectives. Martin Jarvis's presentation of Lord's 1955 classic book, A Night to Remember, is fascinating in both its abridged and unabridged formats. The unabridged title concludes with a list of facts, quite useful since rumor and speculation still abound. Happily, those who aren't moviegoers may learn more about the history of the Titanic by listening to this audio presentation. S.G.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Audiobooks offer a great opportunity to republish a work popular at the time of publication but possibly difficult to find in a bookstore today. Walter Lord's account of the fateful sinking of the Titanic, published in 1955, has long been a source of general knowledge about the disastrous event. With recent salvage attempts and a new movie scheduled for release, interest in the Titanic is renewed, and Lord's story is happily reintroduced here. Martin Jarvis is an excellent choice for narrator. Jarvis, one of the most talented British narrators, received the Reader of the Year Award from the British Spoken Word Association in 1996. Depicting the ultra class-conscious scene on the decks of the Titanic with aplomb, his crusty accents and perfect timing set the scene for impending disaster. Lord's book also details the aftermath of the tragedy, and Jarvis is equally adept at discussing the ramifications and changes that occurred after the sinking. Jarvis ably captures Lord's particular style of dramatic storytelling and careful research. R.F.W. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

The fabulous remake of the film Titanic did more than launch Leonardo DiCaprio's movie career. An amazing number of audiobooks have been released on this topic, representing a wide range of perspectives. Martin Jarvis's presentation of Lord's 1955 classic book, A Night to Remember, is fascinating in both its abridged and unabridged formats. Happily, those who aren't moviegoers may learn more about the history of the Titanic by listening to this audio presentation. S.G.B. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

The Greek tragedy that was the Titanic never ceases to fascinate, and Lord's short work is an excellent introduction to the events of that frigid night in April 1912. Davidson's rich baritone aptly conveys the drama of this event. His voice properly expresses the mood of each scene and character. He controls the pace of the reading, keeping it on an even keel, and makes the disappearance of the ship beneath the waves seem almost anticlimactic. M.T.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine

This classic study of the unsinkable TITANIC still packs an emotional wallop. Of course, we know what's going to happen, but the pleasure here is in the telling and the anticipation created by the author's minute-by-minute account of the doomed ship. What could make this story even better? How about a terrific narrator who has a classically trained English voice that not only lends elan to the book but also heightens the tension and adds expert pacing? Check off all of those boxes, as Martin Jarvis fits the bill with talent to spare. Jarvis alternates his reading to match the text, ranging from a learned professor informing us of a historical event to a breathlessly excited observer drawing us into the story. It's a must-read. R.I.G. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine