Posted by Ed Kiser on May 24, 2003 at 16:28:29 from 152.163.252.103 user Kisered.
In Reply to: Re: Books on Tape posted by Dave Thewlis on May 24, 2003 at 15:04:12:
Dave, you referred to Woolf's "British English" as a possible detriment to some listeners. As for myself, with my ear tuned for the dialects associated with the Southern parts of the USA, I find his pronunciation to be most appropriate. Ransome is a British author; the Swallows and Amazons were British children, and there were those characters that spoke with more local dialects (Cook, for one). I can just imagine the dismay if these wonderful people "spoke" using MY voice instead of that "British English". Somehow, for Cook to be spouting her opinions in good ol' Redneck Southern American would be a gross injustice and a glaring mismatch even to my Southern ears. Woolf's dialect, and his great interpretations of those characters whose dialects are local to certain areas of that land are well done, ADD, not detract, from the enjoyment of his presentation.
I have had the pleasure of taking my dear friends with me on auto trips thanks to Woolf's efforts. The five books thus interpreted that I have the pleasure of posssing have brought to me great satisfaction. His is a job well done.
Ed Kiser, South Florida