cover image Bill Clinton: Mastering the Presidency

Bill Clinton: Mastering the Presidency

Nigel Hamilton, , read by James Adams. . Blackstone Audio, $34.95 ( , abridged, 10 CDs, 12.5 hrs., $34.95 ISBN p) ISBN 978-1-4332-0494-4

Ah, the British accent! Time-tested shield for all literary sins and effective cover for this exhaustive rehash of Clinton-era misdemeanors and scandals. Brit James Adams (identified as “one of the world's leading authorities on terrorism”) reads the second volume of fellow Brit Hamilton's biography of the 42nd president. Beginning with Clinton's inauguration, Hamilton documents the man from Hope's missteps, from gays in the military to Monica Lewinsky, reserving extra snark for every mention of first lady and current presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Adams reads with fruity upper-crust flair, but even his mellifluousness cannot hide the warmed-over stench of Hamilton's tired prose. Anglophiles will enjoy hearing Adams read, undoubtedly, but appreciators of Bill Clinton—or, really, anyone who possesses anything less than a fanatical hatred of him—will find Hamilton's work rough sledding. Simultaneous release with the Public Affairs hardcover (Reviews, May, 21). (July)