The Blood of Emmett Till

Reader Price has a deep, alluring voice reminiscent of old radio announcers. He brings an authentic-sounding Southern accent to the reading of historian Tyson’s latest books,which revisits the 1955 murder of Emmett Till and the legacy of his tragic death in the civil rights movement. But Price has been given the near-impossible task of creating unique voices for innumerable figures: both men and women, old and young, black and white, Southern and Northern. Sometimes these voice characterizations fit smoothly into the narrative, but some distract the listener. (He even tries some unconvincing accents for the few foreigners quoted in the book: German, Czech, French, Italian, Dutch.) Still, his reading thrusts listeners into the horror of 14-year-old Emmett Till’s murder, the trial of his murderers, the wisdom and strength of his mother’s actions, and the role of Till’s death in the ensuing civil rights struggles. [em]A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (Feb.) [/em]