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Martin Chuzzlewit
- Narrated by: Sean Barrett
- Length: 33 hrs and 33 mins
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Publisher's summary
The Chuzzlewits are a family divided by money and selfishness; even young Martin, the eponymous hero, is arrogant and self-centred. He offends his grandfather by falling in love with the latter’s ward, Mary, and sets out to make his own fortune in life, travelling as far as America - which produces from Dickens a savage satire on a new world tainted with the vices of the old. Martin’s nature slowly changes through his bitter experience of life and his enduring love for Mary. Martin Chuzzlewit is one of Dickens’s most humorous and satirical novels, and it contains two great comic creations: the hypocrite Pecksniff and the drunken nurse Sarah Gamp.
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From the author of The Christmas Hirelings comes this Audible Exclusive production of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s classic sensation novel Lady Audley’s Secret. English actress Olivia Poulet gives an assured and captivating narration; a cornerstone of the genre and a scandal at the time of its publication, Lady Audley’s Secret is an entertaining and shocking tale of high drama and shifting perceptions.
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Classic 19th Century “sensation novel”
- By Susan on 08-20-19
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Lady Audley's Secret
- By: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
- Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
- Length: 5 hrs and 12 mins
- Abridged
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A fast-paced Victorian thriller that will delight audiences today as it did 100 years ago, Lady Audley's Secret has subterfuge, kidnapping, jealousy, and fraud, all thrown into the mix and shaken up for good measure.
A mystery which keeps a listener guessing until the last moments, this production is a must-listen for anyone who enjoys playing detective.
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Narrator creates the listen
- By connie on 02-06-12
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Le Pere Goriot
- By: Honoré de Balzac
- Narrated by: David McCallion
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
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Honoré de Balzac uses his classic style of detail to describe a most controversial setting in his novel Le Pere Goriot. The story takes place in Paris just after the fall of Napoleon in 1819. The story focuses on three characters, Rastignac, a student who wants to try and make it big in the capital, Vautrin, an interesting and funny character who is also quite mysterious, and the main character, Goriot, that carries a heavy burden that only a loving parent would endure.
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A minor masterpiece
- By Indi Rock on 03-04-18
By: Honoré de Balzac
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The Tenant of Wildfell Hall
- By: Anne Brontë
- Narrated by: Alex Jennings, Jenny Agutter
- Length: 16 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Fleeing a disastrous marriage, Helen Huntingdon retreats to the desolate mansion, Wildfell Hall, with her son, Arthur. There, she makes her living as a painter. Finding it difficult to avoid her neighbors, she is soon an object of speculation and gossip. Brontë portrays Helen's eloquent struggle for independence at a time when society defined a married woman as her husband's property.
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Excellent performances of an abridged version
- By LSK on 04-21-19
By: Anne Brontë
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A complex plot of love and inheritance is set against the English legal system of the mid-19th century. As the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, it becomes an obsession to everyone involved. And the issue on an inheritance ultimately becomes a question of murder.
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WONDERFUL NARRATIONS!
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Deeply distressed at thought of his singularly money-minded family circling around his inevitable death bed, when Old Martin Chuzzlewit comes across a young and kindly orphan girl, he immediately decides to take her into his employment. Offering her a comfortable living in exchange for her care and protection, Martin rests easy in the knowledge that her comfort will last only as long as he does; upon his death, Mary the orphan will find herself on the cold and dirty streets from whence she came.
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Least enjoyable Dickens' books I've ever read or listened to.
- By Brain on 12-06-18
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WONDERFUL NARRATIONS!
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After escaping from the dark and dismal workhouse where he was born, Oliver finds himself on the mean streets of Victorian-era London and is unwittingly recruited into a scabrous gang of scheming urchins. In this band of petty thieves, Oliver encounters the extraordinary and vibrant characters who have captured audiences' imaginations for more than 150 years.
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In a case of mistaken identification, Barnaby Rudge, a pale half-wit with long red hair who dresses all in green and carries a large raven on his back, is arrested as the leader of a mob of anti-Catholic rioters. He is condemned to death on the gallows, but an upright locksmith named Gabriel Varden comes to his aid.
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Overlong but under-rated Dickens
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By: Charles Dickens
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Martin Chuzzlewit
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- Unabridged
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Wealthy and old, Martin Chuzzlewit, Sr. is surrounded by greedy relatives hoping to obtain a portion of his estate upon his death. Of his two descendants, born and bred in the same heritage of selfishness, one, Martin Jr., has the good fortune to transform, while the other, Jonas, does not and receives a fatal penalty.
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A favorite Dickens
- By Joseph on 07-09-08
By: Charles Dickens
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Martin Chuzzlewit
- By: Charles Dickens
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- Unabridged
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Originally serialized between 1843-1844 the story tells of Martin, the grandson of old Martin Chuzzlewit who is rich but has become bittter due to the greed of his kin. Young Martin is initially selfish but through hard labour and the positive and cheerful influence of his servant, Tapley, becomes decent. The novel is broken up into segments by young Martin's voyage to seek his fortune in America.
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Save your credits
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By: Charles Dickens
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Nicholas Nickleby
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- Unabridged
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One of Dickens’ earlier works, dating from 1839, this novel charts the fortunes of an honorable young man, Nicholas Nickleby, who has set out to make his way in the world. Dickens presents a remarkably vivid display of Victorian characters and the lives they lead, from the generous to the fated to the crushed. Hope springs eternal, however, and righteous persistence brings rewards.
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Best narrator I've ever heard
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By: Charles Dickens
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The Pickwick Papers
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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.
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Watch Dickens Emerge from a Literary Chrysalis
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By: Charles Dickens
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Nicholas Nickleby
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The most gorgeously theatrical of all Dickens's novels, Nicholas Nickleby follows the delightful adventures of a hearty young hero in 19th-century England. Nicholas, a gentleman's son fallen upon hard times, must set out to make his way in the world. His journey is accompanied by some of the most swaggering scoundrels and unforgettable eccentrics in Dickens's pantheon.
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Amazing
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By: Charles Dickens
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Great Expectations
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In this, perhaps Dickens' most profound and personal novel, we are invited to share in the sentimental education of Pip, the poor boy from the village forge who risks losing himself in snobbery and selfishness when he mysteriously inherits a fortune. The story moves from the bleak Kentish marshes of Pip's childhood to a thrilling climax that mingles tragedy and triumph.
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Complex characters and beautiful narration
- By Bonny on 07-04-15
By: Charles Dickens
What listeners say about Martin Chuzzlewit
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Deborah
- 04-18-11
It's worth the wait
The first few chapters of this delightful story center around one nasty character after another. Don't give up because there are dear friends to get to know -- Tom & Ruth, John, Mark Tapley (the best of all), young Martin at last, and more. I didn't want the story to end. The narrator is brilliant, with perhaps the best characterization of all being that of Sarah Gamp, whose fracturing of the English language is outrageously funny. I can't imagine reading her lines -- they must be unintelligible. Hearing them made me laugh out loud. And Dickens' satire of America is broad but true -- where every man has the title of "Major" or "General", befouls every surface with copious quantities of spat tobacco juice, brags about himself and his nation, swindles, and is cock-sure and greedy. He certainly nailed the worst of our faults, and, once again, presents the flaws and beauties of human nature. Enjoy!
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37 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Carol
- 11-16-10
not my favorite Dickens.... but
I confess I waded through the first hours getting hopelessly confused, but being a Dickens' fan I persevered. Then It occurred to me I could find the manuscript on line and straighten all the characters out in my mind. From then on I was hooked. It's a delicious satire that I enjoyed as long as it was based in England, cringed when it moved to America and smiled as Dickens resolves it all with full appropriate recompense.
Sean Barrett's performance was masterful sorting out the many characters.
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31 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Melissa
- 07-31-11
excellent narration - excellent book
This is the first book I have listened to that was narrated by Sean Barrett. He is an excellent voice actor and brings each character to life. It is very easy to follow even though the plot can be quite complex. A very enjoyable audio book.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-17-10
Great book, good narrator
This is a wonderful novel with some especially colorful imagery at various points. The narrator is a little bland when speaking as the narrator, but his character voices are rich and varied, and leave nothing wanting.
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15 people found this helpful
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- Bonny
- 12-09-14
Sean Barrett rivals Simon Vance!
I loved this book, and now I'll have the dilemma of choosing between Sean Barrett and Simon Vance for the Dickens I haven't listened to yet. The narration is exquisite; Mr. Barrett has a lovely voice, and when you listen to Dickens's beautiful writing in Mr. Barrett's beautiful voice . . . well, it's mesmerizing. There are wonderful characters in Martin Chuzzlewit: in particular Mrs. Gamp, the alcoholic nurse who repeatedly violates the Hippocratic Oath, and jolly Mark Tapley, who seeks out trouble and misery because there is "no credit in being jolly" when you're in a good situation. The plot is classic Dickens and if you've read much of his work, you're familiar with his devices, but it's the writing, the characters, and the narration that make this one memorable. As is often the case, Dickens gets pretty Hallmark-ish and treacly at the end, and in his handling of Ruth Pinch, but who cares? It's a great audiobook! Go for it.
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13 people found this helpful
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Overall
- Pierre Gauthier
- 06-07-11
Dickens Comes to America!
Written in 1843, this is an excellent Dickens novel that deserves to be as well known as say Oliver Twist or Great Expectations. The author???s typical tongue-in-cheek humour is very present throughout the work. The number of characters is reasonable, they are relatively fleshed out and it is easy for the reader to sympathize with many. Surprisingly in a Dickens work, some live through phases of introspection and evolve significantly.
The plot is characteristically implausible and includes completely improbable coincidences. It does however entail quite a bit of suspense. In fact, the novel may be perceived in some chapters as a prototype to murder mysteries (which of course had not yet been invented when it was written). Accordingly, despite the length of the book, the reader is constantly enticed to read on.
It is quite fascinating to follow major characters as they emigrate to the United States. The narrator???s comments on America are marked certainly by the author???s own British prejudices. The absence of interest towards culture in the New World and the general obsession with money are developed without subtlety. The narrator???s observations are also coloured by the times. So, New York is described as a ???vast, flat city???. Much more seriously, the paradox of slavery in a nation so proud to be founded on liberty is strongly underscored.
Overall, this fascinating, well-written work is strongly recommended to all.
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9 people found this helpful
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- Jefferson
- 10-13-15
Dickens Does America
Old Martin Chuzzlewit has come to hate his fortune as a misfortune because of its corruption of friends and relatives, and he fears that his money will do great harm whether he keeps it or gets rid of it. He has distanced himself from his family and hired an orphan girl named Mary Graham to be his constant companion, with the understanding that she'll inherit nothing so as to prevent her from hoping for anything. As Charles Dickens' novel Martin Chuzzlewit (1843-44) begins, old Martin and Mary are traveling under the family radar when Martin takes ill so they have to stop at the Blue Dragon, an inn in a small Wiltshire town (near Salisbury). In this town, it develops, resides one of his relatives, one of Dickens' great villains, Mr. Pecksniff, and his two wonderfully misnamed daughters Mercy and Charity. Mr. Pecksniff is an "architect" who takes in pupils as boarders, teaches them nothing, and steals their ideas. He is a seductively articulate scoundrel masquerading (almost to the point of believing his act) as a highly moral man. He takes a Samaritan-like interest in the ailing Martin, scheming to get him under his control so as to get his fortune.
Dickens then introduces other members of the dysfunctional Chuzzlewit clan, including Martin's estranged brother Anthony and his son Jonas, who has been raised from the cradle to seize "the main chance," and Martin's grandson Martin, who was the only member of the family in old Martin's good graces and seemed destined to inherit the fortune until he made the mistake of declaring his love for Mary, which got him exiled from his grandfather. Dickens also introduces other characters connected to the plot, like Tom Pinch, a naïve, sweet, self-denying former pupil and current exploited employee of Pecksniff's; his good friend John Westlock, another former Pecksniff pupil; and Mark Tapley, a worker at the Blue Dragon who wants to earn merit in life by being jolly in terrible situations.
This big novel shows Dickens in full swing, taking pleasure in language and human nature. It features at least three villains, three saints, two rich old men trying to settle matters of inheritance, multiple young men trying to find their places in the world, and plenty of Dickensian grotesques, including Bailey Jr., an undersized boy with an old man's cynical personality; Mrs. Gamp, a midwife/night nurse who is more fond of alcohol than of her patients and has an imaginary friend; and Chuffey, an ancient, cracked, loving, often blind and deaf non-entity of a clerk. Dickens focuses his moral lens on "universal self": "Self; grasping, eager, narrow-ranging, overreaching self; with its long train of suspicions, lusts, deceits, and all their growing consequences; was the root of the vile tree."
Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the novel occurs when two characters move to America and learn the hard way about its flaws. Apart from most American men chewing tobacco and spitting out the juice, most of Dickens' circa 1840 satire feels accurate in 2015. His Americans are convinced of the superiority of their country: "the Great United States," "a model to the airth" for "the regeneration of man," "the envy of the world," "the most powerful and highly-civilised dominion that has ever graced the world." They are manipulated by their sordid morbid media, figure that the people of the world should keep up on American affairs, deal with any criticism of their country as an envious attack on their free institutions, and use freedom as an excuse to do whatever they want, supported by knives and guns. With outraged pleasure Dickens exposes the contradiction between freedom loving and slave owning ("of the noble patriot with many followers who dreamed of freedom in the arms of a slave and sold her offspring and his in public markets") and the racism of northern abolitionists. As one character says, the American eagle is a hybrid comprised of the bat for blindness, the cock for aggressiveness, the peacock for vanity, and the ostrich for ignorance.
As an American, I wish Dickens had also satirized England's exploitation of India, but he does target many aspects of British culture in his other books, as in this one he deals with unsympathetic, venal, and smug doctors, nurses, and undertakers.
At his worst, Dickens is too sentimental (as with Ruth Pinch, little woman, little creature, little figure, little child, with little hands, a little laugh, and a little heart), overwrites (as with a character's death, "Dead, dead, dead"), and gets too carried away on riffs (as with a literary levee featuring Transcendentalists). He's capable of brazen plot contrivances, as when some characters happen by chance to rent rooms from a landlord too convenient to the plot. Sometimes for the sake of (melo)drama he makes people do unbelievable things, as when one reformed character is egregiously unfair to an innocent friend. Sometimes he withholds key information as to motivation and character in order to surprise us in a way reminiscent of manipulative mysteries.
But Dickens' heart is in the right place, and his novel is so full of good-natured love of people, food, music, language, and life and satire of their opposites that it's hard to dislike most of what he writes, and when he's on his game he's unbeatable. His descriptions of gusty winds, stormy nights, shabby neighborhoods, dismal swamps, country walks, and alcoholic tea parties are prime. He writes funny and vivid lines, as in these on a lawyer's office, "with a great, black, sprawling splash upon the floor in one corner, as if some old clerk had cut his throat there, years ago, and had let out ink instead of blood."
Sean Barrett revels in reading the audiobook! His savage, paranoid Jonas, flabby-faced, exalted Pecksniff, cracked, loving Chuffey, greedy, callous Mrs. Gamp, cheeky, precocious Bailey Jr., and coarse, laconic Americans are all splendid fun.
Readers new to Dickens should start with his masterpieces David Copperfield and Great Expectations, but readers who've read a good bit of Dickens would find in Martin Chuzzlewit much delicious fare.
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6 people found this helpful
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- Merlin
- 02-09-14
Classic Dickens, superb narration
I love Dickens and have read all his main works. I'd rank Chuzzlewit about in the middle. Some memorable characters and great dialogue--I especially like Mrs. Gamp. But also the usual flaws-- e.g. authorial coyness that gets tiresome; sentimentality; uninteresting good guys. Sean Barrrett's narration is absolutely excellent: the voices he gives the characters sound perfect.
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- James C. Mulder
- 06-04-15
Another great Dickens novel
I had never known anyone who had read this book. It was up to his best in story and character development. An really good read and not too long.
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- Machiniste
- 07-28-18
Remarkably topical
Dickens' observations on human nature remain as true as ever. His description of the American character is particularly piquant in the era of Trump. Read wonderfully by Mr. Barrett.
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