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One of the most revered works in English literature, Great Expectations traces the coming of age of a young orphan, Pip, from a boy of shallow aspirations into a man of maturity. From the chilling opening confrontation with an escaped convict to the grand but eerily disheveled estate of bitter old Miss Havisham, all is not what it seems in Dickens’ dark tale of false illusions and thwarted desire.
Born to an unmarried woman who dies after giving birth, orphan Oliver Twist seems destined to slog through a dismal life in the workhouse. A rebellious cry for more gets Oliver banished, and ultimately lands him on the dismal streets of London. The young outcast finds refuge with Fagin and his band of thieves before fate intervenes and puts Oliver in the hands of a kindly benefactor. It is likely that Dickens's own early youth as a child labourer contributed to the story's development.
Dickens called David Copperfield his "favourite child," and many critics consider the novel to be one of his best depictions of childhood. Set in early Victorian England against a backdrop of great social change, Dickens acutely observed the phenomena of the Industrial Revolution and used them as the canvas on which he painted the novel. Many consider David Copperfield to be the author’s finest work.
A natural storyteller and raconteur in his own right - just listen to Paddle Your Own Canoe and Gumption - actor, comedian, carpenter, and all-around manly man Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) brings his distinctive baritone and a fine-tuned comic versatility to Twain's writing. In a knockout performance, he doesn't so much as read Twain's words as he does rejoice in them, delighting in the hijinks of Tom - whom he lovingly refers to as a "great scam artist" and "true American hero".
One of Dicken’s best works appraising English society. Highlights the social and economic pressures of the times. A masterwork.
An adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness, it focuses on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune and sets about getting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. However, his plans have devastating consequences for the innocent as well as the guilty.
One of the most revered works in English literature, Great Expectations traces the coming of age of a young orphan, Pip, from a boy of shallow aspirations into a man of maturity. From the chilling opening confrontation with an escaped convict to the grand but eerily disheveled estate of bitter old Miss Havisham, all is not what it seems in Dickens’ dark tale of false illusions and thwarted desire.
Born to an unmarried woman who dies after giving birth, orphan Oliver Twist seems destined to slog through a dismal life in the workhouse. A rebellious cry for more gets Oliver banished, and ultimately lands him on the dismal streets of London. The young outcast finds refuge with Fagin and his band of thieves before fate intervenes and puts Oliver in the hands of a kindly benefactor. It is likely that Dickens's own early youth as a child labourer contributed to the story's development.
Dickens called David Copperfield his "favourite child," and many critics consider the novel to be one of his best depictions of childhood. Set in early Victorian England against a backdrop of great social change, Dickens acutely observed the phenomena of the Industrial Revolution and used them as the canvas on which he painted the novel. Many consider David Copperfield to be the author’s finest work.
A natural storyteller and raconteur in his own right - just listen to Paddle Your Own Canoe and Gumption - actor, comedian, carpenter, and all-around manly man Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation) brings his distinctive baritone and a fine-tuned comic versatility to Twain's writing. In a knockout performance, he doesn't so much as read Twain's words as he does rejoice in them, delighting in the hijinks of Tom - whom he lovingly refers to as a "great scam artist" and "true American hero".
One of Dicken’s best works appraising English society. Highlights the social and economic pressures of the times. A masterwork.
An adventure story primarily concerned with themes of hope, justice, vengeance, mercy, and forgiveness, it focuses on a man who is wrongfully imprisoned, escapes from jail, acquires a fortune and sets about getting revenge on those responsible for his imprisonment. However, his plans have devastating consequences for the innocent as well as the guilty.
Often called the greatest novel ever written, War and Peace is at once an epic of the Napoleonic wars, a philosophical study, and a celebration of the Russian spirit. Tolstoy's genius is clearly seen in the multitude of characters in this massive chronicle, all of them fully realized and equally memorable.
One of Jane Austen’s most beloved works, Pride and Prejudice, is vividly brought to life by Academy Award nominee Rosamund Pike ( Gone Girl). In her bright and energetic performance of this British classic, she expertly captures Austen’s signature wit and tone. Her attention to detail, her literary background, and her performance in the 2005 feature film version of the novel provide the perfect foundation from which to convey the story of Elizabeth Bennett, her four sisters, and the inimitable Mr. Darcy.
"Wuthering Heights" is Emily Brontë's only novel. It was first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell, and a posthumous second edition was edited by her sister Charlotte. The name of the novel comes from the Yorkshire manor on the moors on which the story centers (as an adjective, "wuthering" is a Yorkshire word referring to turbulent weather). The narrative tells the tale of the all-encompassing and passionate, yet thwarted, love between Heathcliff and Catherine Earnshaw.
One of the great classics of world literature and the inspiration for the most beloved stage musical of all time, Les Misérables is legendary author Victor Hugo’s masterpiece. This extraordinary English version by renowned translator Julie Rose captures all the majesty and brilliance of Hugo’s work. Here is the timeless story of the quintessential hunted man—Jean Valjean—and the injustices, violence, and social inequalities that torment him.
Leo Tolstoy's classic story of doomed love is one of the most admired novels in world literature. Generations of readers have been enthralled by his magnificent heroine, the unhappily married Anna Karenina, and her tragic affair with dashing Count Vronsky.
A young man commits all types of sins, but only his portrait shows the ravages of his life. Oscar Wilde's Faustian classic. Gothic horror at its best.
With his trademark mirth and boundless charisma, actor Nick Offerman brought the loveable shenanigans of Twain's adolescent hero to life in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Now, in yet another virtuosic performance, the actor proves that despite being separated by a span of over a century, his connection to the author and his work is undeniable and that theirs is a timeless collaboration that should not be missed.
Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best-selling novel of the 19th century and the second best-selling book of that century, following the Bible. It is credited with helping fuel the abolitionist cause in the 1850s. In 1855, three years after it was published, it was called "the most popular novel of our day." A thrilling and important piece of American literature!
The modern audience hasn't had a chance to truly appreciate the unknowing dread that readers would have felt when reading Bram Stoker's original 1897 manuscript. Most modern productions employ campiness or sound effects to try to bring back that gothic tension, but we've tried something different. By returning to Stoker's original storytelling structure - a series of letters and journal entries voiced by Jonathan Harker, Dr. Van Helsing, and other characters - with an all-star cast of narrators, we've sought to recapture its originally intended horror and power.
This historical romance, perhaps the greatest cloak-and-sword story ever, relates the adventures of four fictional swashbuckling heroes who served the French kings Louis XIII and Louis XIV. When the dashing young D'Artagnon arrives in Paris from Gascony, he becomes embroiled in three duels with the Three Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. But when he proves himself by fighting not against, but with, the Three Musketeers, they form a quick and lasting friendship.
This sprawling and often brutal novel, set in the rich farmlands of California's Salinas Valley, follows the intertwined destinies of two families - the Trasks and the Hamiltons - whose generations helplessly reenact the fall of Adam and Eve and the poisonous rivalry of Cain and Abel.
A moving love story displaying all of Austen's signature wit and ironic narrative style. Persuasion is Jane Austen's last completed novel. She began it soon after she had finished Emma, completing it in August 1816.
Among the most talented and influential voices to grace the audiobook format, Shakespearean actor Frank Muller delivers an electric performance of a story that demands it. Urgency and tumult seem to bellow forth from the indefatigable Muller as he untangles the web of conflict that drives Dickens' historical epic. The French aristocracy’s self-satisfied arrogance is set in contrast with the outraged militance of the downtrodden peasantry. Muller gives a unique voice to each member of the warring classes while nevertheless betraying the selfish motives that bind them all. Dickens' competing lovers, the aristocratic Charles Darnay and his jealous doppelgänger, Sydney Carton, are by turn endowed with desperate passion and tender selflessness as they grapple with historical forces beyond their control.
This is my first time reading/listening to this famous novel. I was amazed at the gracious style that flowed and was so descriptive yet kept you entertained all the while. These characters became my friends and enemies and were a part of me for the 2 weeks it took to finish this in my car. It has all the excitement of a best seller drama yet at the end of the novel I was changed. That is literature.
The narator is absolutely excellent. His personas assumed throughout the peice were consistent and superb. This is a 10/10 and a must get!
38 of 40 people found this review helpful
A great listen. Dickens writes a fascinating window into a facinating time in history and the events are enlivened and given scale by the characters he draws. Like all Dicken's work, there is a lot of scene setting and build up but the wait is worthwhile.
The narration is clear and the characterisation is kept at the level where it assists understanding rather than getting in the way.
A very educational and enjoyable listen.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
One of the best books I have ever read. I started it years ago and couldn't get into it. Now, after learning a lot more about the French Revolution, I got it. Dickens is hard to beat as an author - so beautifully written! But the moral of the story is just so powerful. I recommend this to everyone who has any idea about the Fr. Rev., and if you don't, find out so you can enjoy this book. It is a classic for a reason.
I love Frank Muller, one of the best narrators out there. But I also have this book read by Martin Jarvis who is also very good, and actually has a little lighter quality to his voice, which is sometimes helpful in this rather dark novel..
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
I first read this book in high-school, or should I say I first 'tried' to read this book in high-school. My young mind was unprepared, mostly because it had no patience for victorian-stlye long-winded descriptives of everything. Listening to it was a completely different experience. It's wonderful to listen to a narration from a reader who distiguishes the characters with his voice, and also understands the nuances necessary in what each character is saying. This is much easier than reading it first, then trying to figure out what the intent was.
These characters were unforgettable, and this work will now be with me forever. If it's true that a book absorbed becomes part of your soul, then I would highly recommend this book to anybody. Dickens is fabulous, and I look forward to downloading more of his books in the future. Thanks Audible, for making this classical author more accessible to this reader/listener!
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
Throw me in with the lot that truly appreciated Frank Muller's narration. Audiobooks are a great convenience. In this case I belive that Muller's narration is superior to actually reading the book on paper.
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Very nice voice, yes. But like another reviewer I caught my mind wandering and had to pull myself back, or rewind frequently. I do plan to look up this narrator's audiobooks - there might be other material he's better suited for. With him, Dickens' sober tone gets turned a notch sarcastic, and I find myself listening hard to discern the real 'emotion' of many sentences. As for the content - you can't help but savor Dickensonian phrasing. I'm actually going to read the book at home, to soak it right up (and, well, to compensate for the odd word my ears can't pick up through the narrator's accent).
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This is everything an audiobook should be. A perfect performance of a great novel. Everything is perfect, pauses, accents. Nothing could be improved. Highly recommended. Jim Dandy sez "check it out".
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
And this is one of the best audiobooks ever performed.
If you know the book, this improves that knowledge. If you don't know the book, you're in for a real treat. This is a classic with some of the most richly drawn characters in literature.
An excellent book, an excellent audiobook.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Muller's narration is a true, true treasure. He made this novel really come to life. I cannot overstate how wonderful Muller's narration is, or the depth of emotion expressed by Dickens in this novel.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
If you are downloading this audiobook choose the highest quality available. The reader is very good but the accent and voices cannot be understood unless you choose a high quality format (3 or 4).
About the book itself, what can one say about Dickens. Although the thought occurs; if Dicken's Tale was being published for the first time today, would it be significantly edited? After all, when was the last time you read an author that took 3 paragraphs to explain that a man was wearing a blue hat.
Naturally they are 3 excellent paragraphs with metaphors galore. And I have to believe that much of the rambling helps to create the characters. Especially when I think about the last Dickens book I read, I don't remember the story nearly as much as the characters.
23 of 28 people found this review helpful
frank muller is amazing.every audio book he has read really brings to life the characters and a tale of two cities is one of his best.it's a bit heavy going, just to begin, with but stick with it because its well worth it.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?
Great Story, but sadly Audio from 1986 is muffled beyond any hope of Enjoyment.The 1987 Great Expectations is fine, & that is what you sample in the bundle. Audible must clean this Recording as it sounds like a bootleg tape.
What other book might you compare A Tale of Two Cities [Recorded Books] to, and why?
Worst recorded Sound Ever experienced from Audible.
How did the narrator detract from the book?
One can barely hear him
What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?
Anger at being Swindled by the 'bundle'
Any additional comments?
What happened to Quality Control???
Would you listen to A Tale of Two Cities [Recorded Books] again? Why?
Definitely. Obviously it's a classic story but Muller, once again, delivers the goods on the narration. He brings it to life, gives it subtle emotion in the right places, and at other times sounds like he's channeling Richard Burton. It's wonderful stuff.
What was one of the most memorable moments of A Tale of Two Cities [Recorded Books]?
The opening and closing sentences.
Which character – as performed by Frank Muller – was your favourite?
Madame Defarge. Not a lady to get on the wrong side of :)
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
The closing passage.
Any additional comments?
Download it!