The Pickwick Papers

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: David Timson

Length: 32 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The Pickwick Papers, Dickens's first novel, is a delightful romp through the pre-Reform Bill England of 1827. Samuel Pickwick and the rest of the Pickwickians are some of the most memorable of all Dickens's creations, and it is a joy to hear of their adventures in search of "interesting scenes and characters", and the repeated efforts of the quick-witted Sam Weller to rescue them all from disaster.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks

Runaways, Drunkenness, Bad Hunting & Tales, Oh My!

This is the sixth Dickens book I've encountered (fourth I've listened to on Audible) and I must say, it's grown on me in terms of what you get out of it. In some of Dickens' works (Bleak House, David Copperfield, Tale of Two Cities), it can take a while to get into the dramatic or less descriptive bits because he has to set the mood and introduce you to a wide and not always relevant set of characters you'll meet. But that's definitely not the case here!

In the first fifteen chapters alone, you get a mock battle demonstration, several drunken parties, almost a duel, a failed elopement and much more. That's saying something that Dickens can cram all this into a novel (not even counting the trial and other scenes of the later half of the book) while also showing varied and funny examples of human nature. These examples of human nature also appear in the form of stories-within-the-story told throughout the novel by other characters, which can sometimes be entertaining. I sometimes wonder if Dickens wasn't trying to test out possible storylines since this was his first novel (he mentions the Marshalsea in one, which is crucial in Little Dorritt's plot) or just trying to squeeze out more money via the wordcount with these since he was paid by the number of words per serial.

Regarding the members of the club, I will say the following: 1) Mr. Pickwick must never drink if possible; 2) Mr. Winkle lies about his capabilities at anything or at least lets his reputation get ahead of him until it becomes obviously a lie; 3) Mr. Tupman is a drama queen and 4) probably Mr. Snodgrass is the least likely to cause drama of the bunch. And for sure, Sam Weller is the most competent. You have to remember sometimes that this is satire, because other times you can wonder how a group of four grown men can be so incompetent at nearly anything but causing fuss and mayhem! Or maybe everyone's just good at misunderstanding things, Mrs. Bardell being the biggest one? I probably like Sam Weller best of the characters, for his competence and ability to provide an anecdote in any given situation. Mr. Wardle is fun, being the most competent non-servant in the book.

My favorite scene in the book so far is when Mr. Pickwick attempts to save a young lady he thinks is going to elope with Alfred Jingle (who pops up on and off), only to end up in a confusion because the "boarding school" is a brothel. I will say that it's not easy to know some of the terms or jokes in this novel without having an annotated copy or one with notes in the back. After all, who thinks a lady abbess is a brothel madam today? Though, I will admit that the scene where Mr. Pickwick accidentally enters the wrong room in Ipswich at an inn is my second-favorite, since again it shows how incompetent he is at pretty much anything.

David Timson's reading has been fun so far. He's good at doing a variety of voices, whether it's Sam's Cockney anecdotes, Warlde's "Joe? Damn that boy!", or any of the various ladies. Juliet Stevenson and Simon Vance are two of my favorite readers for Dickens works, but I will say that David Timson is becoming the third.

I would recommend this Dickens book if you're looking for a more light-hearted and funny story. His more serious works like David Copperfield or Bleak House can be hard to swallow because of complicated and/or not plausible storylines (I'm looking at you, combustion scene in Bleak House) or character tropes (the dutiful daughter who cares for her father being the most common) but with The Pickwick Papers, it's just riotous satire all the way. Join in on the fun and unlike Mr. Pickwick, go easy on the milk punch!

Watch Dickens Emerge from a Literary Chrysalis

This book morphed a couple times in my brain. It started off a bit uneven, filled with vignettes and sketches that seemed to anticipate the later genius of Dickens and even presented several shadows of future books and stories. After 100 pages I figured I would have another 700 pages of various Pickwick club digressions. There would be interesting characters (Sam Weller, Alfred Jingle, etc).

The narrative started to bog down, however, during the next couple hundred pages. The book had little velocity and the digressions seemed to have stalled, but then something happened. Dickens absolutely found his genius. It is interesting to behold a great author find his voice. I'm not just talking about any author or any voice. It is amazing to see Dickens find that genius balance between characters, plot, social commentary/satire, and humor. It was like watching a bird hatch, a butterfly emerge from its chrysalis. More than the story, which ended very well, the book is worth the effort for what it shows about Dickens. This isn't the first Dickens I'd read, but after you've read a bunch of Dickens, I'd definitely read this just to soak in Dickens growth and his views on friendship, marriage, lawyers, and debt.

Worthy rendition of a classic

This of all Dickens' novels is perfectly suited to the audiobook format. With its picaresque, episodic style, it can be consumed in reasonably-sized bites without fear of losing the thread of a complicated plot. Dickens' framing device of an editor presenting a series of recollections by Pickwick club members, with occasional editorial interpolations, is abandoned fairly early in favour of a straight narrative style, to this listener's mild relief. David Timson strikes the perfect light comic tone for the narrator and creates the huge gallery of characters with unfailing invention and variety. Woven into the narrative of the main characters are tales told by incidental raconteurs from all walks of Victorian life - lawyers, actors, vicars, travelling adventurers, and landed gentry. The language is full of Victorian delights - characters asking each other to "Have the goodness to ...", endlessly fussing about what is "respectable", calling each other "My dear sir...", and all the while getting through snuff by the boxful, particularly my favourite, the diminutive lawyer Mr Perker. Timson's greatest comic heights come in the arguments between Sam Weller and his irascible father, with their idiosyncratic dialects that must read very oddly on the page but sparkle with humour in Timson's sure hands. Thirty-two hours have never passed so pleasantly.

Just terrific!

Where does The Pickwick Papers rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Fabulous stories and so beautifully read. One of Dickens very best.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Mr. pickwick, of course

Which character – as performed by David Timson – was your favorite?

Could not choose, he was the best reader I have heard. All the characters came to life. i could not wait to go to the gym or ride my bike so I could get back to hear him. It was just like listening to a play.

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

Way too long for a single sitting, but totally engrossing

Any additional comments?

I will look for more books read by David Timson, i wrote his name down on my notes to help me remember when I was halfway thru this reading.

A masterful reading of a wonderful book

David Timson is a master craftsman, who understands Dickens and brings the characters to life, making them both moving and laugh-out-loud funny. This long and winding book is perfectly formed for audio...you will laugh, cry, respect and love Mr Pickwick who is the soul of kindness. I visited and completed the book over many months and enjoyed every such encounter with both writer and speaker.

Long and Lovely Journey with the Pickwick Club

This meandering work of Dickens is very funny and the narration by David Timson is excellent. It takes time to listen to it all but such an enjoyable time spent.

Best narrator ever!!!

Delightful and amusing. It’s amazing that in the time of Dickens just as in our time compassion and kindness is a winning combination. We need more Mr. Pickwicks in our world.

Delightful

Funny, warm loveable characters and stories! I thoroughly enjoyed listening! I did speed up the narrative to take less time.

The narrator, David Timson, is a master.

David Timson's narration lets Dickens takes you straight to the nineteenth century and there you stay.

My Favorite Dickens

My absolute favorite Charles Dickens. Mr. Timson must be a Pickwickian ambassador.
His narration of The Pickwick Papers,
evokes admiration of true talent. So many times have I listened to this rendition, Mr. Timson's rousing characterture performance, replaced the lovely Pickwickian's forever in my mind.
Long Life To The Pickwicks!