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Great Expectations

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Great Expectations

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
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About this listen

One of the most revered works in English literature, Great Expectations traces the coming of age of a young orphan, Pip, from a boy of shallow aspirations into a man of maturity. From the chilling opening confrontation with an escaped convict to the grand but eerily disheveled estate of bitter old Miss Havisham, all is not what it seems in Dickens’ dark tale of false illusions and thwarted desire.

Raised by a humble blacksmith, Pip is recruited by the wealthy Miss Havisham to be a companion to her ward, the cold but beautiful Estella. There, Pip learns to despise his rough origins as Estella torments him about his low prospects. When Pip is informed that an unknown benefactor expects to make him his heir, he sets off to London to realize his “great expectations.” But true gentleman stature, he will find, is a matter of character, not fortune.

Public Domain (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction Romance England

Critic reviews

“Observe how finely the narrative is kept in one key. It begins with a mournful impression—the foggy marshes spreading drearily by the seaward Thames—and throughout recurs this effect of cold and damp and dreariness; in that kind Dickens never did anything so good…No story in the first person was ever better told.” (George Gissing, English novelist)
All stars
Most relevant
I’ve never gotten round to reading this book and I saw it was on audible and I thought perfect!
And it was! The performance was great!
I really enjoyed this book!

Brilliant performance

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Would you consider the audio edition of Great Expectations to be better than the print version?

Cannot remember if I've read the book, but the narrator enhanced the enjoyment.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Joe, because he was a really nice, dependable chap.

What about Simon Prebble’s performance did you like?

Excellent!

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

More than one. Caused tears when finished listening to the whole book.

Any additional comments?

Narrator got into the soul of each character.

Difficult to stop listening to it

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Great Expectations were met on the whole.
Easy listening. Easier than trying to read the book.

Better than the TV version

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It was great revisiting this book… brought back memories and things I didn’t recollect! Highly recommend it!

Revisited this old classic

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What did you like best about this story?

How supportive the blacksmith was to Pip, he did everything and a little more just like any great father would.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

I dont think that would work since you would need 4-5 different actors to play some of the characters.

Any additional comments?

A great story about a boy growing up, realizing that if you are given everything the drive to improve is easily lost. About love, heartbreak and friendship

Overall a great book and a great story

A tragic and lovely story about growing up

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