Dombey and Son

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: David Timson

Length: 39 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Dombey and Son is vintage Dickens and explores the classic themes of betrayal, cruelty and deceit. Dombey's dysfunctional relationships are painted against a backdrop of social unrest in industrialized London, which is populated by a host of fascinating and memorable secondary characters. The complete and unabridged novel is brought spectacularly to life by veteran reader David Timson.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2009 Naxos Audiobooks

A Master Narrator and Under-appreciated Classic

What did you love best about Dombey and Son?

There's little I can add to what other commentators have already said: David Timson is masterful. He's able to manage many different voices for the novel's characters and is one of the few male narrators I've listened to who's female voices are believable. But what most surprised me about this book was just how captivating it was. I hadn't been expecting that since it's not one of Dickens' better known novels and I'd assumed this was because the plot or characters were less compelling than in his other books. Not the case! I've listened to about half of Dickens' novels now and this is my favorite, along with Bleak House. This has partially to do with the narrator, who can truly make or break a book, but greatly to do with the story itself. Like other novels, those of Dickens can be either plot-driven or character-driven. Dombey is character-driven and the characters here are colorful and captivating from the very beginning. This was the only novel that didn't take a few chapters or more to "get into". He had me from the very first lines and his description of the newborn Dombey in swaddling clothes by the fire, "as if his constitution were analogous to that of a muffin."

All good here

Another most enjoyable story from Dickens. I particularly like that the lead character is a female. The narrator is superb.

Superb Rendition of Dombey and Son

This is one of the very best readings I have listened to at Audible. David Timson is superlative.

Awesome

Just when you think you've found your favorite narrator, you stumble upon another who is equally amazing. Timson brings it all to life. I haven't read all of Charles Dickens's books (at least in unabridged versions), but I've read many of them, and while I love them all this one is the best yet!

wonderful narration

great story, wonderful job of narration. One of the best I've experienced so far. I got a little lost, with the father in his house after he lost his fortune and Florence's return.

Absolutely Wonderful!!!

What did you love best about Dombey and Son?

Beautiful story, beautifully told, beautifully read...

What was one of the most memorable moments of Dombey and Son?

When Susan makes an attempt to reach into the heart-soul of one of the main characters.

Have you listened to any of David Timson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but this was FANTASTIC! Thank you Mr. Timson for an incredible performance! How do you manage to remember all the different characters, while maintaining the integrity of each voice/personality throughout?!! You made this such a joy to listen to! And thank you Audible for making this accessible!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Embark on a Dicken's Adventure, a riveting tapestry of life exploding with relevance for us today!

Any additional comments?

Am so grateful for novels by Charles Dickens and eagerly recommend them-- they add a palpable richness to life-- in my humble opinion.

Great Reader

Of course, every book has a certain mood or flavor. David Timson was the perfect fit...

Dickens is master at story-telling once again!

Dickens-20 words-impossible! Excellent story, characters, plot, mysterious, dramatic, heartwarming, heart wrenching! Wonderful! Worth every single minute of listening!

A Real Delight

Dombey and Son, which I had never thought to read before, has been a great pleasure to read in my 69th year of life and even more of a pleasure to hear read so proficiently and expertly. There are so many smart and wonderful nooks and crannies as well as much wisdom concerning the difficulties of family, in particular when a little girl is unloved and passed over by her father. There are many many people in this book but it was always delightful to know them, even the wicked ones. I guess I savor most the insight into cqpitalist greed but without being sermonized or even romanticized. This book turns class distinctions into the myth they are. In its place we find love and generosity vs mindless greed and avarice.

Utterly incredible!

It is difficult to state that this is my favorite Dickens because I enjoy them all. I can state though that David Timson is my favorite narrator. I also enjoy Sean Barrett, but Timson's distinctive variety of voices gives him the edge. I just listened to Dombey and Son and Barnaby Rudge - both novels are so full of life (and death), so much color and true Dickensian stories - right overcomes wrong and justice over evil in the end. I also read many of Dickens' novels, but I now believe that Dickens is to be listened to and not read. Although this book has two males (father and son) in the title, the most powerful and endearing character is Florence, Dombey's neglected daughter. Further, Dickens may have created one of the most obnoxious and evil characters in English literature in the person of Mr Dombey's manager, James Carker. Fortunately, and in true Dickens style, Carker gets his just desserts in the end.