Great Classic Love Stories

BBC Audio has chosen five truly great stories of deep, dark, often painful passion, and has paired them with five fine readers. Mark Meadows has a strong, flexible vocal quality that captures each shift in the subtle progression from humor to horror in Hawthorne's “Rappuccini's Daughter.” And Jerry O'Brian's reading of “The Dead” recreates characters so convincing we are deeply moved by each terrible and tender moment of Joyce's masterpiece. The audio also includes Chekov's “The Lady with the Dog,” Melville's “The Piazza,” Cather's “Coming Aphrodite,” and de Mauppasant's “Clair de Lune.” This is a great listen for any lit lover. (Jan.)