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The Chuzzlewits are a family divided by money and selfishness; even young Martin, the eponymous hero, is arrogant and self-centred. He offends his grandfather by falling in love with the latter’s ward, Mary, and sets out to make his own fortune in life, travelling as far as America - which produces from Dickens a savage satire on a new world tainted with the vices of the old. Martin’s nature slowly changes through his bitter experience of life and his enduring love for Mary.
First published in monthly parts between October 1846 and April 1848. Mike Walker's adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic tale of family relationships tells the story of Paul Dombey, head of the House of Dombey, who lacks a son and cannot reconcile himself to his only daughter.
William Dorrit has been a resident of the Marshalsea debtors prison for so many years that he has gained the nickname "The Father of the Marshalsea". However, his suffering is eased by his close bond with youngest daughter Amy, or "Little Dorrit". The dashing Arthur Clennam, returning to London after many years in China, enters their lives and the Dorrits' fortunes begin to rise and fall. A biting satirical work on the shortcomings of 19th century government and society.
Provoking an unprecedented outpouring of public grief when it was first published, it follows the story of Little Nell and her feckless grandfather. Forced to leave their magical shop of curiosities in London, they are pursued across the English countryside by the grotesquely evil dwarf Quilp. They escape - but at what cost?
Exclusively from Audible. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' So begins Charles Dickens' most famous historical drama: a gripping tale of war, social injustice and the choice between darkness and light. After being unjustly imprisoned for 18 years, French doctor Manette is released from the Bastille jail in Paris and embarks upon a journey to London in the hope of finding the daughter he never met.
The Pickwick Papers, Dickens's first novel, is a delightful romp through the pre-Reform Bill England of 1827. Samuel Pickwick and the rest of the Pickwickians are some of the most memorable of all Dickens's creations, and it is a joy to hear of their adventures in search of "interesting scenes and characters", and the repeated efforts of the quick-witted Sam Weller to rescue them all from disaster.
The Chuzzlewits are a family divided by money and selfishness; even young Martin, the eponymous hero, is arrogant and self-centred. He offends his grandfather by falling in love with the latter’s ward, Mary, and sets out to make his own fortune in life, travelling as far as America - which produces from Dickens a savage satire on a new world tainted with the vices of the old. Martin’s nature slowly changes through his bitter experience of life and his enduring love for Mary.
First published in monthly parts between October 1846 and April 1848. Mike Walker's adaptation of Charles Dickens's classic tale of family relationships tells the story of Paul Dombey, head of the House of Dombey, who lacks a son and cannot reconcile himself to his only daughter.
William Dorrit has been a resident of the Marshalsea debtors prison for so many years that he has gained the nickname "The Father of the Marshalsea". However, his suffering is eased by his close bond with youngest daughter Amy, or "Little Dorrit". The dashing Arthur Clennam, returning to London after many years in China, enters their lives and the Dorrits' fortunes begin to rise and fall. A biting satirical work on the shortcomings of 19th century government and society.
Provoking an unprecedented outpouring of public grief when it was first published, it follows the story of Little Nell and her feckless grandfather. Forced to leave their magical shop of curiosities in London, they are pursued across the English countryside by the grotesquely evil dwarf Quilp. They escape - but at what cost?
Exclusively from Audible. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' So begins Charles Dickens' most famous historical drama: a gripping tale of war, social injustice and the choice between darkness and light. After being unjustly imprisoned for 18 years, French doctor Manette is released from the Bastille jail in Paris and embarks upon a journey to London in the hope of finding the daughter he never met.
The Pickwick Papers, Dickens's first novel, is a delightful romp through the pre-Reform Bill England of 1827. Samuel Pickwick and the rest of the Pickwickians are some of the most memorable of all Dickens's creations, and it is a joy to hear of their adventures in search of "interesting scenes and characters", and the repeated efforts of the quick-witted Sam Weller to rescue them all from disaster.
One of Dickens' early works, Nicholas Nickleby combines comedy and tragedy in a tale of triumph over adversity that is interspersed with Dickens' moving condemnation of society's mistreatment of children and the cruelty of the educational system. Young Nickleby struggles to seek his fortune in Victorian England, yet succeeds despite social injustice, in a story that mirrors Dickens' own rise from poverty to great success.
Wealthy and old, Martin Chuzzlewit, Sr. is surrounded by greedy relatives hoping to obtain a portion of his estate upon his death. Of his two descendants, born and bred in the same heritage of selfishness, one, Martin Jr., has the good fortune to transform, while the other, Jonas, does not and receives a fatal penalty.
One of Dickens’ earlier novels, dating from 1839, it charts the fortunes of an honorable young man, Nicholas Nickleby, who has set out to make his way in the world. Dickens presents his remarkably vivid display of Victorian characters and the life they lead, from the generous to the fated to the crushed. Hope springs eternal, however, and righteous persistence brings rewards.
Born to an unmarried woman who dies after giving birth, orphan Oliver Twist seems destined to slog through a dismal life in the workhouse. A rebellious cry for more gets Oliver banished, and ultimately lands him on the dismal streets of London. The young outcast finds refuge with Fagin and his band of thieves before fate intervenes and puts Oliver in the hands of a kindly benefactor. It is likely that Dickens's own early youth as a child labourer contributed to the story's development.
In this carefully crafted novel, Dickens reveals the complexity of London society in the enterprising 1840s as he takes the listener into the business firm and home of one of its most representative patriarchs, Paul Dombey.
Left unfinished after Dickens died in 1870, The Mystery of Edwin Drood centers on Edwin Drood’s uncle, John Jasper, and his love for Rosa Bud, Edwin’s fiancée. Set in the dark, fictional cathedral city of Cloisterham, the novel is awash with guilt, disguise and mystery. It contains some fine writing, and just before his death, Dickens left an indication of where the plot was going, which is included.
"It was the best of times and the worst of times." In one of the most famous openings of any novel, Dickens masterfully presents the turmoil of the French Revolution, which is the backdrop for a novel of love, patience, hope, and self-sacrifice. This version is read by Anton Lesser, whose award-winning Dickens recordings in their abridged form has now resulted in the opportunity to read the full unabridged text.
Between his work on the 2014 Audible Audiobook of the Year, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark: A Novel, and his performance of Classic Love Poems, narrator Richard Armitage (The Hobbit, Hannibal) has quickly become a listener favorite. Now, in this defining performance of Charles Dickens' classic David Copperfield, Armitage lends his unique voice and interpretation, truly inhabiting each character and bringing real energy to the life of one of Dickens' most famous characters.
Despite the title, Dickens's portrayal of early industrial society is less relentlessly grim than that in novels by contemporaries such as Elizabeth Gaskell or Charles Kingsley. Hard Times weaves the tale of Thomas Gradgrind, a hard-headed politician who raises his children Louisa and Tom without love and to have no empathy, their lives completely devoid of beauty, culture, or imagination. Only after a series of crises does their father realise that the manner in which he raised his children has ruined their lives.
A complex plot of love and inheritance is set against the English legal system of the mid-19th century. As the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, it becomes an obsession to everyone involved. And the issue on an inheritance ultimately becomes a question of murder.
Captivating radio dramatisations of seven of Charles Dickens' most famous novels. Charles Dickens is one of the most renowned authors of all time, and this first digital volume of the dramatised canon of his work includes seven of his most popular novels.
The Old Curiosity Shop is a novel by Charles Dickens.
The plot follows the life of Nell Trent and her grandfather, both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London.
Charles Dickens is arguably the greatest novelist England ever produced. His innate comic genius and shrewd depictions of Victorian life - along with his memorable characters - have made him beloved by readers the world over.
For the background to this historical novel, a tale of mystery, suspense and unsolved murder, Dickens chose the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780. Mayhem reigns in the streets of London, vividly described by Dickens, and the innocent Barnaby Rudge is drawn into the thick of it. Against the public disorder, Dickens tells of the private discord within families - with fathers and sons at loggerheads - and creates a wealth of colourful characters: the sinuously evil Lord Chester; the pretty and vivacious Dolly Varden; and the host and regulars at the Maypole Inn - a symbol of security in those uncertain and violent times.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.
I read Barnaby Rudge many years ago and I remember struggling with it a little. In Sean Barrett's hands everything is made clear, all the characters brilliantly delineated. It is a great Dickens novel, one of his early ones, and it is masterfully brought to life in this rendition. Highly recommended.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
The listening of this interminably long book is eased by Dicken’s fine prose and Sean Barrett’s superb performance (rather than mere narration) making it impossible for me to give anything under a 5 star rating. It is also very interesting historically and rather chilling, to compare these riots which occurred in 1780 with those of 2011 and find that there is virtually no difference in the mindless rule of the mob.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
Barnaby Rudge was one of Dickens' books I had not read, and I knew next to nothing about the Gordon Riots. I have now been so captured by the story that I have explored books and the internet to find out more about the history of the times. The book is read superbly by Sean Barrett and he brought to life the many characters in the book - not least, Grip the raven! The riots were done with such drama that I felt like I was listening to Dickens when he read to his audiences and they screamed with terror! I think that high quality audio books can bring a story to life in a way even one's imagination can fail to.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Although a Dickens fan, I knew nothing about this story and found it unexpectedly moving as well as exciting. Beautifully read.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
What a fantastic experience - Dickens read by Sean Barratt - not just read but narrated in a truly wonderful way. I had not read this book but was thoroughly caught up in the characters lives and the horrendous rioting. How relevant Dickens is to what has recently happened in London. But it was the reading by Sean that made the experience so memorable, thrilling and moving.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
A remarkable journey through eighteenth century life showing both the horrors of poverty, and the exploitation of power and wealth, in a society ripe for change.
Sean Barrett's performance is outstanding,breathing life into every character.
A must listen!!!!
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I had been put off reading this because of the length but when I heard that Sean Barrett's narration was nothing less than brilliant I just had to start listening. I was delighted at his rendering of this book, his voices seemed to take on each character perfectly and it was just such a pleasure to use the new app I'd downloaded and transport myself to Dickensian England peopled by Sean's wonderful cast of characters.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Is there anything you would change about this book?
This is probably Dicken's least known work, for good reason. Unless you are interested in the Gordon Riots and the backlash against Popery in England there are whole tracts of this book that are virtually impenetrable.
What will your next listen be?
The Jungle Book
Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett – was your favourite?
Very hard to say, I lost sympathy with all as a result of the dreary storyline.
Was Barnaby Rudge worth the listening time?
No. And I love Charles Dickens.
Any additional comments?
Sean Barret made the book bearable, well narrated.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes, as it teaches so much about how people get pulled along in the wave of the mob. I had little knowledge of this terrible time in England's history, and felt that Dickens captured the mood. As always, his characters have the weakness of being caricatures and seem a bit 2 dimensional, but the story telling and tension building was superb. I felt like boo-ing and hissing every time John Chester was mentioned, as he was so sublimely horrid.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Barnaby Rudge?
The immediate lead up to the hanging of Hugh and Dennis. Brilliant writing.
What does Sean Barrett bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?
I enjoyed Sean's voices but felt that his 'female' voice was very same-y.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Would you consider the audio edition of Barnaby Rudge to be better than the print version?
haven't read the print version as I find Dickens quite hard work and thought the audio might be easier. Indeed it was.
Have you listened to any of Sean Barrett’s other performances? How does this one compare?
Sean Barrett is by far the best narrator I have listened to so far. How does he find all those different voices? His excellent story telling was a joy. I particularly liked Miss Mimms
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
it the beginning it's a bit slow, but stick with it, it gets really brilliant. Barnaby is a great character.
Any additional comments?
All the characters are fab. You grow to dislike some, my husband and I listened to this together and so have had daily book discussions. Worth every penny.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is a wonderful novel - how did I manage to avoid it for so long? (I've been working my way through all of Dickens' novels over the last couple of years. I would almost say I've been "working them off," but if you listen to this one - and I strongly recommend that you do - you'll understand that working things off is not always a good thing.)
Dickens is at his morally outraged best in Barnaby Rudge: the story centers around the anti-Catholic riots in London in 1780. I'd read a little bit about the riots before - they show up in biographies of Samuel Johnson, who was in London at the time - but nothing like the real horror of it. Tens of thousands of rioters marched through the streets. Hundreds of people were killed, many by the soldiers called in (finally) to restore order; houses, churches, and carriages were burned by the score. Newgate Prison itself was destroyed and all the prisoners set free. In the aftermath, dozens of rioters were hanged.
Moving through this gripping slice of history are the simple-minded Barnaby Rudge; his mother; a brace of loving couples; a heroic locksmith; and a chilling assortment of villains. Barnaby, in his simplicity, is coaxed into carrying a banner for the rioters, and thinks he's being a brave warrior in a noble cause, until he comes face to face with the gallows.
It's not all grim. Dickens' comic invention is in evidence throughout. The dialogue sparkles, and at least three of the four main villains have brilliant star turns that are wickedly funny. (The fourth villain is a brutal, frightening concoction - one of the most unredeemed, and unredeemable, parents Dickens ever invented.)
Sean Barrett's narration is brilliant. Every character has a unique voice, and all are utterly convincing, even the almost too-good-to-be-true Barnaby. Most of the villains have coarse, gravelly voices, but one has a voice as smooth as silk and is all the scarier because of it. This is going down as one of my three or four favorite audiobooks of Dickens. For me, it was infinitely more interesting and rewarding than his other historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities. It's a rip-roaring tale, and I loved it.
25 of 26 people found this review helpful
Reading (knd of) Dickens has been one of the gifts that Audible has introduced me too. As a historical novel this is a bit of a departure from Dickens normal period and I needed to remind myself of that change of era at times through the story.
Before this book I knew that there had been "Gordon Riots" but I had no idea what or who Grodon was and what the riots were about. Dickens sets out the story clearly and using the kind of characters and storylines that he seems to create better than anybody else. By the end of the work all the threads have been drawn together for a satisfying story but also the history has been told in a clear and memorable way.
The narration is good and clear, characterisation is useful rather than intrusive. Recommended.
11 of 11 people found this review helpful
I have read most of Dickens, but somehow passed over this book until recently. If you are interested in British history, the Gordon Riots will certainly hold your interest. I know that I would not have enjoyed this book nearly as much if I had read it instead of listening to this audio book. The narration is amazing.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about Barnaby Rudge?
It's a Dickens thriller, if there is such a thing. As a historical novel it has some fact-based characters and a full complement of Dickens inventions, read superbly by Sean Barrett. It amazes how easy it is to tell which character is speaking by the thoroughly enjoyable delivery. Can't say enough about how well Barrett brings the troupe to life.
What other book might you compare Barnaby Rudge to and why?
I listened to the Old Curiosity Shoppe just before Rudge and it wasn't nearly as good - this has a large purport, and could better be compared to Little Dorrit which is also somewhat factual. However Rudge is better paced and frankly more interesting. I also saw the film The Duchess recently, based on Amanda Foreman's nonfiction book on Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, which is set at the same time - the late 18th century. This great book helps inform Dickens' subject, and made the Rudge experience even richer.
Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett – was your favorite?
Haredale was good - steady. But I love the locksmith, and John Willett was a lot of fun.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?
The ill-informed riots that might have felled the British empire.
Any additional comments?
Get it. Someday I'll buy the book and read along as I listen. Sean Barrett deserves a fancy award for this work.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
If you could sum up Barnaby Rudge in three words, what would they be?
Mesmerizing
Gripping
Beautiful
What did you like best about this story?
Charles Dickens's ability to bring out human nature at its darkest and finest. These characters are like every day people we all know.
What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?
Mr. Barrett's ability to make the characters come alive and to give them their own voice was truly remarkable.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Yes, yes, and yes!
Any additional comments?
My wife and I thouroughly enjoyed listening to this with the book open in front of us each night this past week. We'll definitely be making this a regular practice.
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
This is an early Dickens’ historical novel about the anti-Catholic Gordon riots of 1780 and the doings and loves of a host of country characters. There are some great Dickens characters and moments in this novel; the raven, the villains, Hugh and his dog and, of course, Barnaby. Yet this is not Dickens best work. The novel lacks focus; it is a historical chronical, a mystery, a romance, an adventure and a parable. In each aspect it foreshadows later and better Dickens novels. The novel winds up too predictably and too cleanly. In his later works there is more focus and nuance.
The narration is quite good throughout, but the voice of Miggs was too annoying even for Miggs (an annoying housemaid). Although this is not Great Dickens, it is still Dickens, which is still quite good.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Captivating from the very beginning. This book is well read and draws the listener into each character in a profound way.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I love the work of Dickens and this one did not disappoint. His ability to bring stories to life is beyond any modern day authors to which I have listened with the exception of his shallow female characters. However, the characters and images that is created are pure delight. The reader was amazing.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Best narrator ever. I would listen to him til the end of time. The story is true Dickens and quite apt for our own day. The mob scenes are truly frightening. A great listen.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
It has been said that this is Dickens' least-read novel, while A Tale of Two Cities was the best-selling. ATTC is unfortunately a slog, in my estimation, compared to BR, which showcases much more of Dickens' wit and ability to move a story along to the impatience of the contemporary reader. Concerning Audible specifically, Barrett's narration is far more engaging than is Vance's cadence in ATTC that yields to constant drifting of one's attention. This was not a problem with Barrett, which is vitally important since an ear needs pay constant attention to the voice to appreciate this author's work to it's fullest.