AUDIO

Perilous Question: The Drama of the Great Reform Bill 1832

by Antonia Fraser
10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11¾ hrs. Recorded Bks. 2013. ISBN 9781470395100. $123.75; digital download. HIST
COPY ISBN
In the early years of the 19th century, Britain's ruling class, anxiously aware of the revolutionary fervor that had swept America, France, and Belgium and facing growing popular unrest at home, was forced to consider a choice between civil chaos and the prospect of revising the structure of a corrupt and manifestly unrepresentative parliament. In a remarkably detailed and insightful evocation of the era and the personalities involved, Fraser (Love and Louis XIV) drew on parliamentary minutes, contemporary newspaper accounts, and personal letters to create a lively chronicle of the political maneuvers that led to the passage of the Great Reform Bill of 1832. The narration by actor Mike Grady is spot-on, with confident reproductions of various geographic and class accents.
VERDICT Because of the narrowness of the topic, this audiobook will work best with specialist audiences. ["The subject will not necessarily draw readers in as much as a royal biography, but the book is recommended for Fraser's fans and for British history enthusiasts," read the review of the Public Affairs hc, LJ 6/1/13.]
Reviewed by Forrest E. Link, Coll. of New Jersey, Ewing Twp. , Apr 01, 2014
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

A Year of Last Things: Poems
by Ondaatje, Michael
MEDIA

Greta & Valdin
by Reilly, Rebecca K
MEDIA

The Sisters of Belfast
by Maure, Melanie
MEDIA

The Blueprint
by Rashad, Rae Giana
MEDIA

This Spells Love
by Robb, Kate
MEDIA

Last Seen in Havana
by Dovalpage, Teresa
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?