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The Chimes
- Narrated by: Richard Armitage
- Length: 3 hrs and 40 mins
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Summary
The magnificent Richard Armitage (Hamlet: King of Denmark: A Novel) performs The Chimes by Charles Dickens.
This classic story is the second in a series of five Christmas books Dickens was commissioned to write - beginning with A Christmas Carol. A haunting tale set on New Year's Eve, The Chimes tells the story of a poor porter named Trotty Veck who has become disheartened by the state of the world - until he is shown a series of fantastical visions that convince him of the good of humanity. Though much different from and certainly a bit darker than A Christmas Carol, the moral message of The Chimes is equally poignant - touting the importance of compassion, goodwill, and the love of friends and family.
The Chimes was followed by The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life, and finally The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain.
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What listeners say about The Chimes
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- bookylady
- 17-03-16
Beautifully Read
Any additional comments?
I had never heard of this Dickens' Christmas story before listening to it and now I understand why. The language is very old-fashioned and the 'goblins and ghosts' element is very much in a Victorian style, as I expected. The attitudes of the Victorian gentry towards the poor were, as outlined in the story, very shocking indeed and the story does not have many redeeming features.BUT, the performance of the narrator is very much a high quality one with an interesting range of voices, interpretations of characters and excellent pacing. The book is worth listening to for Richard Armitage's excellent narration - then go and listen to his other audio performances. Every one of them is fantastic.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Mrs. K. Sowden
- 26-12-15
Beautifully read
I find Charles Dickens quite difficult because of the old fashioned language but Richard Armitage made this tale much more accessible. I really loved all his characterisations and will make sure I listen to all his other narrations. The story is very thought provoking - the representations of the attitudes of some Victorians were truly shocking in places.
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3 people found this helpful
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- LYNDA LINE
- 03-10-23
Mildly amusing.
Richard Armitage excellent as always.
With great alacrity I would’ve bet my vittles Dickens did not write this. Either that or he was in junior school at the time.
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1 person found this helpful
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- canine companion
- 20-08-23
Dickens brought to life
A rarely seen piece which I thoroughly enjoyed . Old world words and strict characters tell tales of old.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Normal Norman
- 08-03-23
A Forgotten Classic
The Chimes was written one year after A Christmas Carol. Both are turn of the year tales of ghostly warnings and visions, for many years they were equally prized but, while A Christmas Carol remains a perennial favourite, The Chimes is largely forgotten. I think that's a shame because The Chimes avoids the common Dickensian trope that the solution to destitution is a rich benefactor. (See Oliver Twist, The Old Curiosity Shop, Martin Chuzzlewit and, of course, A Christmas Carol.)
The picture of working class destitution in The Chimes is as hard as anything Dickens ever wrote; there's poverty, hunger, prostitution, ugliness and despair. And there's no jovial rich man riding to the rescue in a carriage and pair. The rich don't care, the "charitable" will suggest you look elsewhere. Yes, there is redemption, this is Dickens after all, but it doesn't come from above. Well worth a read.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Aisling Reid
- 23-02-23
Wonderful!
Wonderful text and brilliant audio, I would really recommend this audiobook to any Dickens fan
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1 person found this helpful
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- Lynda Lewis
- 06-09-21
An afternoon very well spent!
I am a lover of the novels of Charles Dickens and this was the first narration of my Richard Armitage library. It was wonderful, I can't wait to listen to the next one.
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- TIllytoodle
- 04-02-20
Beautifully narrated rather eerie, dark little tale
Beautifully narrated by Richard Armitage, as always, but there is a reason you've never heard 'The Chimes' of Dickens; it's rather eerie . Perhaps Dickens had one too many one New Year's Eve when he wrote it!
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1 person found this helpful
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- M K.
- 08-12-19
typical Dickens...
If you liked 'A Christmas Carol ' then this is not bad and it is very much Dickens at his best....
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1 person found this helpful
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- nought
- 01-12-19
Lovely tale
Unusual story with typical Charles Dickens
Empathy great characters each with their own
Tale very well read good listen
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1 person found this helpful