Our Mutual Friend cover art

Our Mutual Friend

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Our Mutual Friend

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

 A sinister masterpiece, Our Mutual Friend was Dickens' last completed novel. It is perhaps his ultimate vision of a dark, macabre London and the corrupting power of money.

Opening with a father and daughter scavenging for corpses on the Thames, the chilling tale unfolds around drownings, disguises and doubles, violence, murder, and triumphant love. Young John Harmon, presumed killed on his return home to England, is very much alive. The heir to a dust merchant's fortune, he goes to work under an assumed name for his father's current heirs, the amiable, elderly Boffins, who are about to be blackmailed by the unscrupulous one-legged Wegg.

So begins the intrigue in a novel that is quintessentially Dickensian in flavor, in its grotesque caricatures, its rich symbolism, and the astonishing realism of its heroine, Bella Wilfer, among Dickens' most splendid female characters.

Click here to see all the titles in our Charles Dickens collection.(P)1999 Blackstone Audio Inc. Classics Linguistics Social Sciences England

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All stars
Most relevant
This recording has not been edited properly. Simon Vance, who is a very good reader, has corrected himself at times and both the original recording and the corrected version are left in, so that you hear both. It is interesting but annoying, and the faulty editing should have been picked up.
As to the novel, it is not one of Dickens’ best. In order to convey to the reader the real identity of his hero, he has a chapter in which the hero talks to himself about his past, which feels rather clumsy.

No editing

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Good story well read, very well read, attitudes are a bit dated.
the editing is poor.

Well read

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Is it only me who has been living in ignorance or is this book vastly underrated? I thought I knew of all Dickens' great young characters, but I had never come across Jenny Wren, the doll's dressmaker, and she's far more interesting and well-developed than many of the better-known ones. A great book, enhanced by an excellent reader.

Masterpiece

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Where does Our Mutual Friend rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

An often overlooked classic from the pen of Charles Dickens is beautifully brought to life by a superb narration by Simon Vance. A wonderful combination that elevates this audiobook above the crowd of brilliant classic audiobooks that are available from Audible.

What did you like best about this story?

The underpinning story of finding love when least expecting it is elevated by a superb array of memorable characters and subplots. The interconnection of characters and interweaving of plots keep this lengthy story moving effortlessly to a superb and satisfying climax.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The opening scene, set on the Thames, brings forward a incredibly evocative picture of Victorian London riverside life. The attention detail and the combination of images and character set the novel moving forward in a chilling and compelling way.

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

There are so many moving moments in this, the greatest of Dickens' novels, that to pick just one seems unfair. As always though the tenderness of scenes involving infant mortality, which nobody but Dickens can describe in so moving prose, leave a lasting impression on the listener.

Any additional comments?

A wonderful story which is brilliantly narrated by Simon Vance is a must for any fan of Dickens, but more than this it serves as a great introduction to this great author to those who have yet to experience his brilliance and majesty.

A hidden classic

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Such a great story to listen too, especially if you enjoy description. As always Charles Dickens is the master of description, describing people, dress, food, London, and most especially here peoples attitude to money.

Wonderful

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