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Our Mutual Friend

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Our Mutual Friend

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: David Troughton
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John Harmon, in exile for many years, discovers that by a curious quirk in his father’s will he must marry Bella Wilfer, a girl he has never met, in order to claim his inheritance. Mistakenly thought to have drowned, on his return he gains employment with the kindly Mr Boffin under the assumed name of John Rokesmith and falls in love with the flighty and mercenary Bella, who scornfully rejects him as a mere impoverished secretary. But Boffin and his wife contrive a plan to help John and show Bella the error of her ways.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics Funny Thought-Provoking
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What a brilliant reading of the many and complex characters created herein by the inestimable Mr Dickens whose legend lives on, brought vividly to life by the talent of Mr Troughton. Not simply a fascinating historical insight but people and traits we come across everyday are detailed wittily and observantly, sometimes painfully, the whole rolling along in this rich story, I could hardly have enjoyed it more, and will buy more Dickens from Audible to brighten my days.

A delight throughout

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The last novel Dickens ever completed and he’s absolutely on top of his game. Quite apart from the plot, sub-plots, and a huge cast of characters, he sticks it to politicians, the Poor Law boards, anti-semites and ‘Society.’ Yes, our Charlie was ‘woke.’

The cast is adroitly managed by the reader, David Troughton, who gives a pitch perfect performance, sustained over 35 hours of listening. Superb!

Well written and brilliantly read

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Firstly, I have to say that this is definitely one of my favourite Dickens. For most of the book at least, both the leading young women, Lizzie Hexham and Bella Wilfer, are strong characters. Unfortunately towards the end, Bella slips into a more traditional Dickens role, as per Dora and Little Nell. More normally for Dickens, he finds his most upright male characters in a wide variety of interesting places and, more specifically, offers a welcome contrast to the anti-semitism that readers have associated with his drawing of Fagin in Oliver Twist.



The reading is very professional, faltering only, in my personal view, when Dickens uses irony to convey his discust for the character he is drawing - the reading of his introductions to Lammle and Wegg being examples.



I have enjoyed this, but I could have been thrilled.

Good, but not, for me, great

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Lovely performance, just the right balance, not overstated. Goes without saying that the story is wonderful.

Great Performance

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I loved it so full of characters. His understanding of people and society is fascinating.

amazing

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