The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 30 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby is closely modelled on the 18h-century novels that Charles Dickens loved as a child, such as Robinson Crusoe, in which the fortunes of a hero shape the plot. The likeable young Nicholas, left penniless on the death of his father, sets off in search of better prospects. His meandering route to happiness includes work as a teacher at Dotheboys Hall, where the brutal Wackford Squeers ill-treats his impoverished pupils, and a spell as an actor with the absurdly melodramatic Crummles troupe. Nicholas's many adventures give Dickens the freedom to follow the eccentricities of a vivid gallery of characters, exploring themes of class, love, and self-awareness with exuberant comedy and biting satire.

Public Domain (P)2010 Tantor

A great tale.

Simon Vance is a phenomenal narrator. His rendition of the characters markedly enhanced the story.

Best listening experience yet!

What an incredible book to read during the Christmas holiday. The narrator was without a doubt one of the best I have ever heard. He did a masterful job of creating the characters that I could recognize each person without verbal cues.

I now understand why this work is a classic. No current day story is as powerful as this. My life has been enriched as a result of listening to this book. Thank you audibles.

classic!

Loved this book, the human struggle is beautiful, and inspiring. I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed!

Simon Vance is a marvel!

With Vance's performance, you truly realize Dickens' genius -- for comedy and tragedy. It's like I was truly reading this novel for the first time -- again!

Brilliant Narrator Enriches Episodic Novel

Would you consider the audio edition of The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby to be better than the print version?

Yes, Simon Vance brings to life Dickens' vivid characters and helps blunt some of the weaknesses of this early Dickens' novel. The contrivances and absurd coincidences of Nickleby seem less important when one is so supremely entertained. Yet this is not a Dickens' masterpiece like David Copperfield and Great Expectations. It is too episodic, too contrived, and too shallow for those lofty heights. However, it is great fun.

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the relationship of Nicholas and Smike. The lifetime of abuse Smike suffers at the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Squeers is heartbreaking. His deliverance by Nicholas and their subsequent friendship is revelatory while never seeming false.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

He individualized the characters and brought them to life. He is a brilliant actor.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, that would be impossible.

Any additional comments?

Dickens' has rarely if ever created believable young women. The young women of Nicholas Nickleby are no exception. The characters of Kate Nickleby and, especially, Madeline Bray are typical Dickens' doormats. Calling them one-dimensional would do them too great an honor. It baffles me how the same writer could create so many vivid men and older women.

Not my favourite Dickens

But still worth a listen. The narrator does well and you really dislike the villains and love the heroes. Some of the women come across as a bit sappy but that's Dickens fault too.

A must for Dickens fans

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

I would definitely recommend it to a friend, what kind of a friend would I be if I didn't!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Typically with Dickens the story is crammed with great characters. It's far too difficult to name only one favourite.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

I loved that the book was quite simply well read, not too fast or too slow and I could follow the characters very easily.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It's Dickens, of course I had extreme reactions of every kind, I would have felt short-changed otherwise.

Any additional comments?

If you want a good book that's well read and will keep you entertained for a long time then look no further.

Fantastic!

A new Charles Dickens favorite. Such an enjoyable story written so beautifully and perfectly narrated.

This classic just goes on and on and on and on....

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

No, I would not recommend this book to a friend. As embarrassing as it is to admit that a classic by Dickens is tedious, it was true for me. Perhaps because it was first published as a serial, it is separated into separate "adventures" that have little connection to each other. At different times, I began to feel like, "what is the point of this story line?" The story is clever and funny, but it just wanders along. Finally, despite an excellent narrator, I stopped listening to this novel. The narration is excellent. I did listen to this novel for a long time because the narrator made the story come alive.

An adventure with Heroes and Villains!

It took me a while to get into Nicholas Nickleby, but one I muddled through the extended misery that begins the book, there was reward aplenty.

It struck me that was a book of heroes and villains - and much like a fantasy adventure, the central Hero, Nicholas, must engage his band of heroes to defeat the villains that he encounters. The object of the adventure - well, nothing more than a life of happiness and being with those one loves.

The villians are dastardly. Wackford Squeers, the schoolmaster, is as cruel, greedy, and false as a character can be, and by casting himself as the great father to the poor boys pawned off to his oversight, the depth of his evil is unrestrained. His minions, Mrs. Squeers, daughter Fanny, and son Wackford, all reflect this evil core. You might recall that Squeers' "methods of teaching" were admired by Roald Dahl's headmistress Miss Trunchbull in the delightful children's book Matilda.

Sir Mulberry Hawk, the lecherous egomaniac that sets his lusty designs on Nicholas' sister Kate. His has the ability to appear gallant and charming, making Nicholas' and Kate's mother think he is a Hero, but all the while he is conniving to sordid mischief. His minions included the very efficient Misters Pluck and Pike - ready to do anything for Hawk at any time, no matter how base or vile. Lord Verisopht is another of Hawk's minions, but not due to an evil nature, but to a combination of extreme naivete and apparent innocence. Too late, he recognizes Hawk's nature and how he has been used for evil purposes.

Walter Bray, the father of Nicholas love interest, does his best to ruin his own family, playing the role of ungrateful, tyrannical father to a beautiful young lately who has won Nicholas heart just by crossing his path on two occasions in her life.

And the central villain, Nicholas' Uncle Ralph, a man of money and influence, who from the beginning seems unwilling to give Nicholas even the least morsel of respect, and instead, interprets Nicholas every act as being to embarrass and stain him, and sets as his life course the utter destruction of Nicholas and his quest for happiness and love. Ralph associates with the other villains, and a lesser villain named Arthur Gride to bring misery to Nicholas.

Contrasted with these mean villains are the clan of Heroes:
Newman Noggs actually works for Ralph, and at times, must do errands that contribute to Ralph's evil intent, but he befriends Nicholas, and eventually emerges as the hero inside the villain's camp who can help save the day. There is so much to like about Newman Noggs.

Vincent Crummles is the head of the theatre troupe where Nicholas' fortunes begin to turn. A chance meeting betweeen two is the place where Nicholas adventure turns from one of flight and exile to one where Nicholas becomes a man of talent and personality that will pay off in his future endeavors.

John Browdie is the muscle of the party of heroes in this story. There is also much to like about John Browdie; he is the guy you want on your side because of the combination of a can-do spirit and a winsome personality, but when his ire is raised, he becomes decisive and impactful.

Ned and Charles Cheeryble are angelic in their heroism, full of generosity and a willingness to intervene to make the path straighter. I found their lack of spouses and children of their own somewhat unbelievable, as they were so magnamious to a degree that seemed to beg to be shared on the most intimate level. Whereas Noggs was a hero who has some specific and very obvious skills to be used to help Nicholas achieve his quest, the Cheerybles are more transcendant in their ability to effect good.

And then there is Smike. Smike is the initial catalyst in turning this from a story of drudgery to a story of hope and adventure, and the relationship between Nicholas and Smike is a story of loyal devotion and companionship. Nicholas saves Smike's life, but that favor is returned in both tangible and intangible ways.

And most importantly, the Hero of Heroes, Nicholas Nickleby. I think Nicholas is more purely good to the core than either David Copperfield or Pip in Great Expectations, a couple of other great Dickens heroes I have recented gotten to know. And Nicholas is fighting a more intentional evil. As this is only Dickens 3rd book, Nickleby is far less complex than the later heroes. For example, his love for Madeleine is overly simplistic, especially when you compare it to David Copperfield's two great loves, both of which were fraught with complexity.

I cannot pass without commenting on Nicholas' sister Kate and his mother. Kate is a loyal and devoted sister who plays a significant role in the book by daring to resist the lewd advances of Sir Mulberry Hawk. But, I would again describe her character as simplistic.

The one character who is not simple is the mother. Given to long rambling monologues, Dickens shows a tremendous appreciation for this woman's beloved role in the family. While you know everyone around her is wishing she would shut up, you are so grateful that she is asserting her place in the middle of everything. Sometimes she is foolish, stupid, and downright embarrassing, but at others she is just humorous and pitiable. But in all, she is Mom, and she is loved.

This is the 4th Dickens book I have devoured over the past couple of years, and I continue to be amazed at his characters. I liked David Copperfield a bit more, perhaps because of the aforementioned digging into Copperfield's feelings about the women he loved. This book had some very good drama, and did a nice job of intertwining the characters.

Bottom line, don't get discouraged by the early misery of the book. Plod on through, and you will be rewarded!