The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Campbell's seminal hero's tale has remains influential in academia and the arts, e.g., in the creation of Star Wars. Morey was not the best choice for this complex classic, first published in 1949. He enunciates carefully, so the listener doesn't miss a word, but his mid-sentence pauses are so long that one gets caught up in the words and phrases rather than the meaning of the sentences. This is in stark contrast to the other narrators' styles of delivery. Lee reads with a British accent and high emotions, and Denaker also reads with dramatic flair. Campbell's thesis is that everywhere in the world we find legends with this story line: a hero journeys out of the everyday world into "a region of supernatural wonder." Here he encounters dragons, serpents, and other fantastic creatures whom he conquers. He returns home with special powers that enable him to serve others. A New World Library hardcover. (Mar.)