The Pickwick Papers

If you are unfamiliar with the writings of Charles Dickens this is a good novel to start with as it is one of his happier ones.

It does touch on one of the social ills of the age, the debtors' prisons and that part is informative and thought provoking, but mostly the story is far less serious.

The humour is both satirical and gentle, the various cxharacters intriguing and often recognisable! The plot is typically complex, but although the story is lengthy it can be listened to gradually with easy breaks.

To those who already love Dickens writing I believe you will find Simon Prebble the narrator is masterful and a joy to listen to. His treatment of the many different characters made them easy to distinguish and readily believable. My own particular favourites, Sam and Tony Weller, came across exactly as I "vould" have imagined and his dear gentle Mr Pickwick was wonderful.

Cannot recommend this highly enough.

I would recommend this book to anyone, with one condition... Don't give up on it too soon. This book starts very slowly. It was Dickens first book I believe, and it starts out in a very stuffy formal mode. It purports to be a documentation of the activities of the "Pickwick" club (hence the name the Pickwick Papers). The story takes a while to get going, and I'm afraid many might not have the patience to see it through. Once it gets going, you don't ever want it to end. The narration is first rate as well. Sometimes you find yourself mesmerized by the sheer beauty of the writing of the author, and the magnificent reading of the narrator. It also contains some of the most endearing characters that Dickens ever created. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, its wonderful.

This reader (Prebble) is a master at dickens voices! He is wonderful to listen to.
The Pickwick Papers is a fun read, not a dark story-line such as Tale of Two Cities

Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers was a joy to read! Mr. Pickwick is such a kind, generous character that you'll love. I will admit that the story can get a little long and a little slow in some places, but overall it is an enjoyable read. Mr. Prebble is a wonderful narrator - he really brings out the characters' personalities. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys the classics or Charles Dickens.

I am a confirmed Dickens lover thanks to audible.com. This is the 5th Dickens novel I've listened to and it was such fun. Rediculous and silly as Dickens often is, I just came to love these characters. It doesn't have the tragedy as Oliver Twist or Bleak House (both of which I enjoyed also). I will definitely listen to it again. The recording and narration was good also, nothing distracting.

The Pickwick Papers is an enchanting book, a real joy. That joy is manifested in the work of Simon Prebble who I daresay is the the most gifted narrator I have ever encountered. His pacing, voicing, and good-humored rendition is wonderful. I also listened to his narration of "Great Expectations", which was equally good. If you plan to listen to Dickens, try for a Simon Prebble narration. You will not regret it.

A slightly different, though still very distinctive Charles Dickens book. While you will enjoy the break from the usual linear story of boy grows up, strange and sad things happen to him, boy conquers in a sitcom style happy ending, this is still Dickens. And everyone is married at the end, which I am sure does not surprise you. Perhaps Dickens was a government agent, paid to keep touting the standard civil institutions, and as always even in romantic comedy films these days, two things happen with marriage: you become very happy, and things go black, because getting married is a kind of death? Because nothing sad, strange, or humorous happens to you with a sensible wife at home to reason it out with you or to keep you from going out to begin with? The ending annoyed me, as it felt contrary to the style of the book and rushed. I think Dickens often wrote until he couldn't stand his own story anymore and then knocked it off fast in the easiest way possible. The only other thing that annoyed me is all the courtship and romance erased one of the better characters from the book. Fat Mr Tupman. But plenty of loveable and memorable others remain: the fat boy, Sam Weller, or Veller, you decide- and they are all greatly narrated. Fun until it stops being so, and even then, it ends in a whirr.