Our Mutual Friend

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: David Timson

Length: 36 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

A mysterious boatman on the Thames, a drowned heir, a dustman and his wife, and a host of other Dickens characters populate this novel of relationships between the classes, money, greed, and love. The 58 characters are presented with remarkable clarity by David Timson.

Public Domain © and (P) Naxos Rights International

Critic reviews

"With a cast of characters that covers the whole spectrum of London life, Dickens weaves a tapestry of tales that are by turn funny, moving and tragic." (School Library Journal)

"David Timson makes the cavalcade of contemporary types compellingly real." (The Times, London)

"The fact that Dickens is always thought of as a caricaturist, although he was constantly trying to be something else, is perhaps the surest mark of his genius." (George Orwell)

A major undertaking, but well worth the experience

Here is Charles Dickens in all his glory: countless interlinked and concatenated plots; a wealth of characters, each one a unique individual; and the panorama of London society in the 1800's, from the lowly scavengers who dredge up bodies from the Thames to the superficial socialites with nothing to do but exchange gossip at dinners and breakfasts. David Timson helps to make sense of this complex work, gives each character his or her individual voice, and adds color and life to the prose.

Outstanding

I was totally confused by the first 3-4 hours as nothing seemed to make any sense, and I wished I had the book to go back and look at, but once past that, it was a excellent book. The narrator was fantastic and you know which character was which by his voice alone. It was excellent.

Absolutely brilliant!!!

Brilliant story..mind blowing narration...Mr. Timson, you have earned a lifelong fan!
Thank you for bringing the words of the inimitable Mr. Dickens to life.

Best book ever.

I cannot rave enough about this book in itself. As an audio book it's equally amazing. The voice artist brings to life the different characters with an acute memory as to who's who and doesn't slip. It's a joy to listen to.

The storyline itself weaves in and out of so many characters lives without seeming to. You become equally involved with everyone and your disappointment that their scene temporarily closed is relieved by the knowledge you'll become just as entranced by the next chapter. How some one can have so many vivid and interesting characters and still maintain a clear interesting storyline is beyond me.

If you love story, a little uncomfortable history lesson in the treatment of an entire culture, examples of the truest of loves (romantic and otherwise) and examples of the darkest and most hurtful emotions, I highly recommend this book. Even if you don't I would suggest giving it a listen. It is a wonderful piece of literature and a true classic.

Bravos all around!

Expertly crafted. Wonderfully narrated. It takes a dickens to create such a colorful variety of characters, and it takes a Timson to come up with enough voices to give them each Audible expression. The author and the performer are a worthy match, and the end result is an utterly delightful and satisfying listen.

Fabulous story, gifted narrator

Dickens at his best - rich characters who are funny, heart-wrenchingly sad, evil, delightful, intersecting plots with twists and turns, social commentary on wealth and class and false piety and pride. David Timson is a brilliant narrator. He is equally convincing as the sweet young heroine and the gruff old man and the dozens of characters in between. Some very funny voices that bring Dickens' story to life. Stick with the beginning, as Dickens introduces the large cast of characters. Once you get to know them all, you won't want the story to end, even though it's a very long audio book.

Great performance of a classic

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

David Timson does a great job with the narration - he differentiates characters well, not an easy task because there are so many in this novel. I love the novel - it's one of my favorite Dickens novels - and experiencing it as an audiobook was great fun.

What did you like best about this story?

I love the way Dickens intersperses very sharp social commentary with a very real set of entertwined, human stories. One of my favorite characters is Jenny Wren.

Great classic story

This is a great story told in rollicking style. The characters are numerous and distinct.

The audio performance is probably the best I have ever heard, with great variety of voices and mannerisms.

Pure Listening Pleasure

I enjoyed every moment of this exceptional audio book production. A wonderful array of characters each brilliantly portrayed by David Timson so that you feel you are listening to a full cast production. Much of the story revolves around a flawed heroine who grows throughout the novel in a similar way to Martin Chuzzlewit - another one of my favourite Dickens. There are also, of course, some deliciously “evil” characters. Although the novel deals with a number of serious themes including money and wealth, social status, poverty, and even touches upon anti-semitism, there is also a great deal of humour throughout the book and many very moving and inspiring moments. For anyone who loves Dickens this audio book is an absolute must listen, and for anyone who has yet to discover his brilliance this audio book is a really accessible one to start with.

Highly recommended

David Timson's narration of Dickens's last completed novel is a tour de force of brilliant characterization. He portrays every one of the many characters so vividly, that, after hearing his reading, you feel you know them. I laughed and wept and didn't want it to end.