• The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to A Tale of Two Cities

  • By: David Timson
  • Narrated by: uncredited
  • Length: 25 mins
  • 3.4 out of 5 stars (334 ratings)
The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to A Tale of Two Cities  By  cover art

The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to A Tale of Two Cities

By: David Timson
Narrated by: uncredited

Publisher's summary

David Timson talks about Charles Dickens, much loved for his great contribution to classic English Literature. Listen to A Tale of Two Cities narrated by Anton Lesser.

"It was the best of times and the worst of times." In one of the most famous openings of any novel, Dickens masterfully presents the turmoil of the French Revolution, which is the backdrop for a novel of love, patience, hope, and self-sacrifice. This version is read by Anton Lesser, whose award-winning Dickens recordings in their abridged form has now resulted in the opportunity to read the full unabridged text. His singular characterizations led to him being chosen by Peter Ackroyd to play Dickens himself in the major TV account of the writer.

Listen to A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

©2012 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2012 Naxos Audiobooks

What listeners say about The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to A Tale of Two Cities

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OK book

I've either heard or read a book that'd similar to this book about tails of two cities cities I can't really remember. but this was an alright book to listen to

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17 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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Not a full book

Just excerpts. Not the full book. Don't get your hopes up as it only three pieces of the story.

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3 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Disappointing

What disappointed you about The Novels of Charles Dickens: An Introduction by David Timson to A Tale of Two Cities?

I guess I misread the description and to me, the introduction was a total waste of time. A Tale of Two Cities is a book I have read several times previously and I was hoping listening to this would bring it more alive to me. It seemed a very superficial introduction

Would you ever listen to anything by David Timson again?

I didn't have a problem with David Timson's narration; I just have to be more careful in reading the description before purchasing and Timson book.

How could the performance have been better?

It wasn't the performance that was a problem for me; it was the content. There were a few excerpts quoted and the characters just didn't seem real.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I had read a lot about Dickens previously and the introduction did add a little (a very little) to what I already know.

Any additional comments?

A waste of money. Get the complete version of this novel, not the introduction.

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2 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Disappointed

Did not realize that this was not the full story. What couple minutes I listened to were read in a excellent manner.

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1 person found this helpful

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Not sure of the point

The commentary at the beginning about Dickens is good. I can’t figure out the point of the seemingly random “clips” from the book that were shared. At least it is short!

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No point to this -- don't get it.

This "introduction" tells one very brief story about Dickens --- that in middle age he abandoned his wife and six children for an 18-year-old actress -- and then goes directly into two short passages from Tale of Two Cities, the beginning part and one much further along. These are well read, though confusing since there is nothing to identify them, but they are not read by David Timson but by Anton Lesser, who is not credited. Anton Lesser is a wonderful reader, of course, but this excerpting seems plagaristic. I suspect the whole thing is some sort of a mistake.

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Waste of time

This is nothing more than the beginning of the book! To me, an introduction is information about the book itself, how it came to be written, background, little known facts. This is min labeled. It should be called "Samples of...". A waste of $ and time.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Just a short version and I have the long version,.

it is a great book, but I somehow downloaded this short version and I have the 13 hr. version written by Charles Dickens, so your staff helped me fix this for another book.
thanks

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Novels of Charles Dickens

Introduction:
Greetings, fellow beings of HowlStrom. I am Kiba Snowpaw, an alpha male Ice Wolf from our icy realm. With over 36 years of life experience and a passion for tales from other worlds, I've ventured into the realm of human literature. Today, I bring forth my thoughts on an audiobook that delves into the works of a renowned human author, Charles Dickens.

Basic Plot Summary:
This audiobook is not the tale itself but an introduction to "A Tale of Two Cities." David Timson discusses Charles Dickens and his significant contributions to classic English Literature. The backdrop of the story is the tumultuous period of the French Revolution, a time of love, patience, hope, and self-sacrifice.

Analysis/Evaluation:
The audiobook serves as a window into the world of Dickens and his masterpiece. While it offers a glimpse into the essence of the novel, it is not the full tale, which might be misleading for some. The excerpts from the novel are well-chosen, giving listeners a taste of Dickens' narrative style and the story's ambiance.

Characters:
While this audiobook primarily focuses on Dickens and his work, the brief excerpts provide a glimpse into the characters of "A Tale of Two Cities." Their struggles, emotions, and experiences during the French Revolution are palpable, even in these short sections.

Structure:
The structure is straightforward, beginning with an introduction to Dickens and his work, followed by selected excerpts from the novel. This format might be more appreciated by those already familiar with Dickens' work or those looking for a brief overview.

Impact:
For someone from HowlStrom, where tales of ice and magic prevail, venturing into the human world's historical narratives is intriguing. The audiobook provides a unique perspective on human history, society, and emotions.

Hook and Thesis:
The famous opening line, "It was the best of times and the worst of times," serves as a powerful hook, drawing listeners into the story's world. The thesis revolves around understanding Dickens' intent and the novel's significance in classic English Literature.

Praise and Critique:
The narration by Anton Lesser is commendable, bringing life to the excerpts. However, the audiobook's title might be misleading for those expecting the full novel. It would benefit from a clearer distinction that it's an introduction rather than the complete story.

Comparison:
Compared to other introductions or summaries, this audiobook offers a unique blend of analysis and actual text from the novel. It provides both an overview and a taste of the story, making it stand out.

Conclusion:
While the icy winds of HowlStrom are a far cry from the streets of Paris and London, tales of love, sacrifice, and revolution are universal. This audiobook serves as a gateway to Dickens' world, and while it might not be the full journey, it's a step in the right direction. For those unfamiliar with "A Tale of Two Cities," this introduction might ignite the spark to delve deeper into the novel. However, always be aware of what you're diving into, lest you expect a full tale and receive but a glimpse.

May the icy winds of HowlStrom guide your path. Until next time, this is Kiba Snowpaw, signing off.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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Waste of time

Simply a waste of time! Why would one need to know about what is in the authors mind at the time of writing?

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