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Martin Chuzzlewit cover art

Martin Chuzzlewit

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Sean Barrett
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Summary

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. Martin Chuzzlewit is one of Dickens’s most humorous and satirical novels, and it contains two great comic creations: the hypocrite Pecksniff and the drunken nurse Sarah Gamp.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your My Library section along with the audio.

Public Domain (P)2010 Naxos Audiobooks

What listeners say about Martin Chuzzlewit

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Inspiring narrative

I always enjoy listening to audiobooks - but this reading by Sean Barrett is like a dramatisation. It reminded me that Dickens was famous for his theatrical readings, and how susceptible audience members had hysterics. It is a truly wonderful performance. There are tedious passages in most of Dickens' novels but I was so entranced by Sean Barrett's impersonations, of Mrs Gamp, Mr Pecksniff, Mrs Todger, Bill Bailey (the list goes on) that I did not want to miss a word. As a novel, this one is patchy; but Dickens has the knack of conjuring up truly evil characters, such as Jonas Chuzzlewit and Mr Pecksniff, and Sean Barrett's performance made me feel Dickens' magnificence as novelist even more, I think, than simply reading it for myself would have done. The novel has been on my bookshelves for years and I've taken it down, flipped over the pages and put it back on several occasions. The whole experience of listening to a master in performance bringing to life the work of another master convinces me that there's more to be done, yet, in writing novels for reading aloud, rather than simply reading to oneself. The best of story-telling, like this, needs the human voice!

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Great Dickens

Great characters, a fascinating story, lots of humour, brilliantly read and characterised by Sean Barrett.
The novel has one or two chapters that are a bit long-winded (don't be put off by Chapter 1), the American section is surprisingly anti-american.
But you must make the acquaintance of some of the unforgettable characters such as Mr Pecksniff, Tom Pinch and may you never be looked after by Mrs Gamp.
Superb.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Martin Chuzzlewit

What a combination - Dickens and Sean Barrett. It was such a joy listening to Sean Barrett reading this book. He made the characters come to life seemlessly. I laughed out loud when Mr Pecksniff became inebriated and was put to bed. Definitely one to listen to again.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

As brilliant as ever

The narration was brilliant!
Many of the characters are incredibly disagreeable (credit to the writer for creating such a lively lot) compared to most other Dickens novels, and the satire is so biting. The bits in America are still so relevant it's almost painful.
Highly recommended: as brilliant as many other Dickens novels.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Unusual Dickensian Tale

Sean Barrett makes a brilliant job of narrating this story especially as the tale moves to the USA. I found that it needs some perseverance as somehow Dickens complex cast of characters struggle to take on depth until the latter end of the first download. The introduction of a transatlantic dimension works well in contrast with the English story and then takes on a pace. My advice is stick with it it is an excellent read with an unusual wider scope for Dickens.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • G
  • 24-09-12

didn't expect this

I had never read this novel from Dickens and it's not the sort of story-line that one comes to expect with most of his books. It does have many of the ingredients but somehow the result feels different. Interesting characters and a regular build-up of the story, and then nothing seems to happen. As if a key passage was missing. A nice listen though, with an incredible narrator able to do all of the voices brilliantly.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

For me, not the best Dickens

There are great characters here but much of the novel is tedious and repetitious and the quality patchy. However, when it is good, it is Dickens at his best. The reading is as good as it could be and the characterisation of the voices faultless. It kept me going when I might have given up had I been reading the book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A superb rendering of a great book

Would you consider the audio edition of Martin Chuzzlewit to be better than the print version?

Sean Barrett's reading was absolutely fantastic and he certainly brought the book to life.

What did you like best about this story?

Everything about it was excellent, great humour, humanity and emotion.

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

This man could make the phone directory sound interesting. As soon as I finished this book I ordered a number of other books read by him. Probably the best reader I've listened to.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's 33 hours long so not really practical but I was always eager to get back to it as soon as I could and I have recommended it to other listeners.

Any additional comments?

A great pleasure. Thank you for making it possible.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliantly read by Sean Barrett

I am thoroughly enjoying revisiting Dickens novels and Sean Barrett brilliant brought the novel to life.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another great book from Dickens.

I enjoyed this book which was brilliantly read by Sean Barrett. The language is slightly more flowery than Dicken's other books but is probably because he was trying his hand a poetry in an obscure way. As usual the female heroines are too good to be true but none of this spoils the story. Recommended.

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