The Cricket on the Hearth

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Jim Dale

The holidays are upon us, and this year Audible is very happy to present to our members one of Charles Dickens’ most popular Christmas stories, The Cricket on the Hearth. This holiday classic (original subtitle: “A Fairy Tale of Home”) tells the innocent, picturesque, and charming story of a poor family and their would-be guardian angel; in short, a delightful vision of Victorian Christmas. As always, a great story calls for a great voice, so we’ve brought in legendary actor and record-breaking Audie and Grammy award-winning narrator Jim Dale (The Night Circus). Happy holidays and happy listening!

Public Domain (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Struggled to finish

I bought this book because I love Jim Dale. Really didn't see the point to the story.

Classic Dickens...but not classic story

If you could sum up The Cricket on the Hearth in three words, what would they be?

Thanks Audible!

Any additional comments?

It is all there...the Dickensian humor and turn of a phrase that can leave you in stitches, the memorable characters. The story is not one of my favorites from Dickens (although it does have a neat twist at the end), but that does not mean it is not worth the listen.

Nice Dickensian Christmas story

This was a free download from Audible, and who can pass up a free Dickens?

One of Dickens' Christmas stories, this one features a series of misunderstanding and coincidences in typical Dickens fashion.

A Scrooge-like toymaker named Tackleton is engaged to marry a much younger woman, who clearly does not love him, but needs the financial security he offers. Meanwhile, the lovely Dot is also married to a much older man, but alas, events transpire to lead poor Mr. Peerybingle to believe his beloved Dot is secretly meeting with a gallant younger man. Lastly, there is Blind Bertha, the daughter of impoverished Caleb Plumber, who has conspired to conceal from his blind daughter their true circumstances.

These three couples, whose lives are intertwined, are each the beneficiaries of a cricket on a hearth, who conjures household spirits symbolic of all that is good in their lives, and the miseries each endures are overcome in the end.

A heartwarming little tale, though not one of Dickens' best. I didn't delight in any marvelous Dickensian turns of phrases as I have in so many of his other stories, nor were the characters particularly memorable. But it's certainly a nice tale to listen to by a crackling fire. (Or in my case, while raking leaves.)

Whimsical bit of fun

I find fiction very hard to follow on Audible, but this short little story was great for a day of driving around doing errands. It might be a bit cheesey and predictable, but I suppose that's what a holiday story should be. The narration was top notch as well.

I love Jim Dale

The story was pleasant, but a little slow and not exactly my taste. It was a worthwhile short read, but I really really love Jim Dale's narration. If you're feeling like a taste of Dickens (but not the dreary depressing and slow big novels, and a bit in the holiday spirit, this is a nice choice.

Charming story of trickery and redemption.

Not to be missed for a christmas story. Narration by Jim Dale is always enjoyable and beyond satisfactory. Loved the misunderstanding of the carrier and his faithful wife Dot.
If you like Dickens treat yourself.

Dale Rocks Dickens

Jim Dale does a marvelous job with Dickens tricky and complicated sentence structure. Dickens characters are ones that might have just stepped from London's foggy alleyways.

The longest 3 hour book

Would you like to see how long you can string out clumsy and unnecessary exposition? I will explain Cricket on the Hearth in 4 words:
Paid.
By.
The.
Word.

this was a freebie.

this was a free listen and it is pleasant, but not something I would have picked.

Sweet story

I'll be honest, I didn't follow the whole thing very well. But I did get the gist of the sweet story. And I could listen to Jim Dale all day.