编辑推荐From Publishers WeeklyThe diaries our 40th president kept while in office—edited and abridged by historian Brinkley (The Great Deluge)—are largely a straightforward political chronicle. Reagan describes meetings with heads of state and antiabortion leaders, reflects on legislative strategy and worries about leaks to the press. He often used his diary to vigorously defend his polices: for example, after a 1984 visit with South African archbishop Desmond Tutu (whom Reagan calls "naïve"), the president explained why his approach to apartheid—"quiet diplomacy"—was preferable to sanctions. Reagan sometimes seems uncomfortable with dissent, as when he is irked by a high school student who presents a petition advocating a nuclear freeze. And he often sees the media as a "lynch mob," trying to drum up scandal where there is none. Reagan's geniality shines through in his more quotidian comments: he muses regularly about how much he appreciates Nancy, and his complaints about hating Monday mornings make him seem quite like everyone else. Brinkley doesn't weigh down the text with extensive annotation; this makes for smooth reading, but those who don't remember the major political events of the 1980s will want to refer to the glossary of names. Reagan's diaries are revealing, and Brinkley has done historians and the broad public a great service by editing them for publication. (May 22) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From AudioFile THE REAGAN DIARIES, spanning the years 1981-1989, open with an introduction by the editor, which gives a broad overview of Reagans presidency and personal life, nicely establishing the context in which these diaries were written. Delivering the diaries themselves with Reagans own phrasing and pacing, narrator Eric Conger begins to sound much like the Great Communicator himself. Subject matter ranges from the historic to the mundane, often in the same entry. Reagans voice as delivered by Conger is clear and recognizable throughout. Extras include swelling martial music bracketing each discs presentation and a final disc that presents excerpts from nine of the presidents actual speeches. Listeners will find Congers performance a satisfying experience. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine--This text refers to the Audio CD edition. |
内容加载中，请稍后...
商品评论（0条）