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Preview
  • The Cricket on the Hearth

  • By: Charles Dickens
  • Narrated by: Jim Dale
  • Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (15 ratings)

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The Cricket on the Hearth

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Jim Dale
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Summary

The holidays are upon us, and this year Audible is very happy to present to our members one of Charles Dickens’ most popular Christmas stories, The Cricket on the Hearth. This holiday classic (original subtitle: “A Fairy Tale of Home”) tells the innocent, picturesque, and charming story of a poor family and their would-be guardian angel; in short, a delightful vision of Victorian Christmas. As always, a great story calls for a great voice, so we’ve brought in legendary actor and record-breaking Audie and Grammy award-winning narrator Jim Dale (The Night Circus). Happy holidays and happy listening!

Public Domain (P)2013 Audible Inc.
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What listeners say about The Cricket on the Hearth

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    4 out of 5 stars
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The Cricket on the Hearth

Allegedly Lenin once walked out during a rendition of this play due to its rather saccharine sentimentality.
However those of us who are devout fans of his works, are used to this side of the great man.
This is possibly his most sentimental of the 5 ‘Christmas’ books.
Jim Dale does a fine job as narrator.
Recommended

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Utterly delightful

Dickens at his vintage, schmoltzy best. What an absolute delight. Jim Dale is a joy as narrator.

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A wonderful reading of a lesser known story

I absolutely loved Jim Dale’s narration of the third of Dickens’ Christmas stories. He really brought the book to life. I will be looking for more books narrated by him.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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SURREAL YET WARMING

It’s a more surreal tale than I’d expected it to be, but then I don’t really know what I expected! I only came across this, and another Christmas tale, when I bought an anthology of Dickens’ Christmas writings last year

I’ve devoured TCOTH in two days and, for the most part, have really enjoyed it. There seems to be a dip in the story either side of the midpoint, which does make it hard to get through, but thankfully the rest of the story is absorbing, so you soon forget the lulls

Admittedly, I can’t say I’m familiar with JD (Narrator), but he does a good job of making this odd-but-warming tale an enjoyable listen

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