cover image The Reagan I Knew

The Reagan I Knew

William F. Buckley, JR., , read by Malcolm Hillgartner. . Blackstone, , unabridged, five CDs, 6 hrs., $tk ISBN (0pp) ISBN 978-1-4332-6279-1

Buckley worked on this book—commemorating his 30-relationship with Ronald Reagan—up to his final days. He struggles to paint a picture of a more private Reagan, but the book sheds little fresh insight; instead, it is a scattershot compilation of Buckley's reminiscences and reprinted correspondence between the author and Ronald and Nancy Reagan. Malcolm Hillgartner performs a good balancing act, shifting from the essays to the letters with subtle changes that clearly indicate whose letter is being read. His most impressive feat is creating a clear yet subdued voice within the reading to indicate when footnotes or asides for clarification are being made. A Basic Books hardcover. (Jan.)