(Read by R.H. Thomson; Random House Audio; seven CDs)
This latest installment of the Hogarth Shakespeare novels is an adaptation of "The Tempest." Prospero is reimagined as Felix, a Canadian theater director who's usurped by his assistant and finds vengeance years later while staging a version of "The Tempest" in a prison. There are some clunky transitions and a few too many conveniences that are merely glossed over, but this remains fast-paced, enjoyable, and clever. Thomson is a seasoned Canadian actor who sounds regionally appropriate and believably theatrical as Felix, and measured and sneaky as his nemesis. He conjures up several subtle vocal variations and captures the novel's humor with ease. Grade: B+
