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Oliver Twist

The Audible Dickens Collection

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Oliver Twist

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Jonathan Pryce
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About this listen

This Audible Exclusive production revisits one of Dickens' most popular novels: Oliver Twist, narrated by internationally acclaimed, award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce.

Part of the Dickens Collection, an exclusive series of unmissable performances, Oliver Twist is a gleaming example of the genius and foresight of Charles Dickens.

When young orphan, Oliver Twist, is sold into an apprenticeship with an undertaker, he leaves behind years of miserable servitude and mistreatment at an English workhouse. Hoping to move on to better things, he decides to escape his new, equally dreary surroundings and head to London.

It is there that the novel unravels as Oliver meets a host of larger-than-life characters, including The Artful Dodger, a high-ranking member of a juvenile pickpocketing gang, and their elderly leader, Fagin.

Desperate for affection and the sense of belonging that he has never known, Oliver unwittingly throws himself into a life of petty theft, which soon takes a violent turn with the introduction of one of Dickens' most terrifying characters, Bill Sikes.

Exposing the cruel and inhumane treatment of orphans in 19th-century England, Dickens created one of the most significant social novels of all time. With it, he condemned the establishment for neglecting homeless children and leaving them vulnerable to recruiters who would exploit and abuse them. Oliver Twist cemented Dickens’ reputation as one of the most talented, influential and revolutionary of English authors.

Following his father’s incarceration, Charles Dickens had to abandon his studies at a young age and set to work in a factory so as to support himself. Despite his short-lived education, Dickens went on to write 15 novels, various articles, novellas and short stories. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became the ultimate self-made man.

Jonathan Pryce is an award-winning actor of the stage and screen. He is best known for Brazil, Glengarry Glen Ross, Evita, Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Pirates of the Caribbean series as well as his widely recognised performances as High Sparrow in HBO’s Game of Thrones and Cardinal Wolsey in BBC’s Wolf Hall.

Jonathan most recently starred opposite Glenn Close in the critically acclaimed film The Wife, directed by Björn Runge. He can soon be seen as Don Quixote in Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and in the upcoming Netflix feature film The Pope, directed by Fernando Meirelles, in which he stars as Pope Francis opposite Anthony Hopkins.

Public Domain (P)2019 Audible, Ltd
Classics Coming of Age Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction England Classics Collection

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Behind the scenes with Jonathan Pryce

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I am so torn with this. It is quite right, that Dickens should write this story, lest we forget the evils of the past and never return to the time of the workhouse. So first, I am going to discuss the merits of the book.

The tension, regardless of the length of the book, was maintained throughout. I rooted for Oliver from the get-go and the tension Dickens maintained was the need to see Oliver safely into adulthood, which at many, many times became damned unlikely.
The story is well written. I have no doubt that it is true to the life of the time. The characters become alive in a way only a truly great artist can accomplish. We all love Oliver, Mr Brownlow and Rose. While in equal part hating Fagin, Sykes, and on occasion Nancy.
Well written. Interesting. But...

I hated the story. I hated being party to the abuse of a small child. I hated those who had it in their power to at the very least not harm him, but still did so. There were several times I nearly switched the book off. It was merely the need to know Oliver's outcome that kept me listening. As Dickens intended.
I hated that Nancy wouldn't leave Sykes. I hated that Fagin's boy's couldn't be just that. Boys. I hated the squalor and filth that Dickens' description brought so vividly to my consciousness that at times I thought I could smell Sykes's bad breath.

Above all that though was the term 'The Jew'. It was always phrased as an insult. As if his badness came from being Jewish, and it rattled me as much as the child abuse. It incensed me so much I felt pity for Fagin. For all the things we should hate him, his race is NOT one of them. He was not bad because he was Jewish, he was just a wicked man, and would have been cruel no matter what his ancestry was. I understand that we need to see history in this context, so that we might never repeat it, but I just can't stand race hate and antisemitism. It was most certainly not the excellent oratory of Jonathan Pryce, but every time the phrase was used, I had to swallow down bile.

Jonathan Pryce brought all the characters to life most excellently. Especially Fagin and Mr Brownlow.

I will not, as long as I live, ever re-read this book. Nor will I watch the movie Oliver, or attend the theater to see the play or a musical. I had not fully comprehended the truth behind this book, as I had never read it, but who in their right mind would make a song and dance about such a vile story? It is not fun. It is not romantic. It is however an essential read, if only to take a glimpse into the hell that was life for poor people in Victorian England, to ensure the vile occurrences of the past do not repeat.

So to sum up. Absolutely bl**dy spellbinding in its horribleness.

How to rate such hate?

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Had a few reservations when Jonathan Pryce started reading, as his voice sounded a little “dry”, but I needn’t have worried - he throws himself into the story, with perfect voices for every character (including the narrator), young and old.

Hard to imagine a better reading, to be honest. Quite outstanding.

Outstanding Performance

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I have previously read this novel more than once. I am a die-hard Dickens fan. This performance was wonderful and really brought out the genius of Dickens' description and the eccentricity of the characters. However, one thing that hit me hard this time was the extent to which the plot resolution relies really heavily on coincidence. I have always enjoyed this before - happy to suspend disbelief for the sake of a good ending - but it did grate a bit.

Lovely performance of much-loved classic

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We all think we know Oliver Twist but the films/musical are but thin gruel compared to the full fat original. Brilliantly read by Jonathan Pryce.

So much better than the film versions…

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Great narration, it was very engaging and brought it to life. I
thank you very much

thoroughly enjoyed

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