Dubliners

Penguin Classics

By: James Joyce

Narrated by: Andrew Scott

Length: 8 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.   

This Penguin Classic is performed by Andrew Scott, star of Sherlock, Fleabag, and Black Mirror, also known for his on-stage roles in Present Laughter and Hamlet. This definitive recording includes an introduction by Terence Brown.  

Joyce's first major work, written when he was only twenty-five, brought his city to the world for the first time. His stories are rooted in the rich detail of Dublin life, portraying ordinary, often defeated lives with unflinching realism. He writes of social decline, sexual desire and exploitation, corruption and personal failure, yet creates a brilliantly compelling, unique vision of the world and of human experience.

©2019 James Joyce (P)2019 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

"Scott's intonation and pacing made the book really easy to follow, and the fact that every chapter is a full story kept me engaged for much longer than if I was reading it on the page." (i News) 

Well Acted and Interpreted

Scott does a wonderful job of injecting personality into each of the characters throughout the 15 stories.

Incredible narrator for classic text

I simply cannot imagine a more brilliant narrator for this classic Joyce text than the great, Dublin-born Andrew Scott, winner of two Laurence Olivier awards for best stage actor as well as a BAFTA and a Critics Choice Award for his television acting. As with his remarkable stage performance of Hamlet, in this performance of Dubliners, Scott is able to use his voice to give nuance and texture to these characters that make the stories come to life in fresh, surprising, deeply moving ways. I will, without doubt, listen to his interpretation of Dubliners over and over.

Audible version of The Dubliners

I struggled with Chapter 1 of the book which was a long academic lit.crit type thing, beautifully spoken if a little bombastic.
The rest of the book i.e. The Joyce work
was spellbinding, on relection some of that might have been the “scene setting” done in the first chapter.
Bottom line was i wanted to revisit Dublin soon and look forward to the next James Joyce book on or off Audible

Sound too low

I love this book & have read & listened may times. However sound quality on this version is poor.

Great performance, missing the appendices

Should have included the appendices in the narration, otherwise, the production is quite good

Good story, poor reading

Good story but poor reading. too much acting and changing the volume level of his voice had me turning up and turning down the volume constantly and I nearly blew out an eardrum. lol

Great!

I think the narrator does a wonderful job at reading these perfect stories. Dialogue is fantastic. Thank you!

Astonishing Narration

The stories are, of course, wonderful.
But the narration is simply stunning - at times lighthearted and lyrical, at others heartbreaking sad. A wonderful listen. Profoundly affecting. Thanks to Andrew Scott.

Outstanding narration

Andrew Scott's narration of A Painful Case (chapter 12) is simply incredible. I have listened to it several times and it repeatedly floors me. He is able to convey with such nuance in his voice the devastating dawning of the character's self-imposed desolation. Joyce's Dublin characters are so vividly alive in this narration, their predicaments and emotions so palpable. It's awful!

Audible: Please include a few seconds pause between the chapters so that the ending of one can sink in before the beginning of the next.

Loved it!

Listened to this as part of a set text required for my English Lit degree and absolutely loved it. Andrew Scott makes the stories so much more enjoyable to listen to, with his wonderful Irish accent....could happily listen to him all day!

Masterful

This magisterial work by the unparalleled Joyce is sublimely read by Andrew Scott. His gorgeous soft tones are a perfect match for Joyce’s ringing prose. A profoundly moving experience, thank you so much 💓.

One of the best novels I have ever read, and now one of the best audiobook performances I’ve ever heard.

I have studied this novel quite a few times throughout my life, at GCSE, at A level and then for my degree, each time I’ve read it I have appreciated something new and subtle that I had missed before. This text is fantastic, it really places you in Joyce’s Dublin amongst the reeking ash pits and the vibrancy of the city. The epiphanies are all unique and powerful, and as I’ve grown older I’ve appreciated more and more; like Joyce’s humour and playfulness in parts, and the horror and tension of unspoken violence and abuse. This is an incredible book and Andrew Scott’s performance is a triumph, you can tell that he understands the characters and he gives voice to each individual that only deepens the enjoyment of the narratives.

Buy this and experience one of the best, if not THE best audiobook that I have ever listened to.

Wonderful Stories amazingly enhanced

Dubliners has long been one of my favourite books so I did not expect it to be as improved further by such brilliant narration. Andrew Scott brings an array of characters of all ages and from all parts of Dublin, sociological and geographical, to life. Highly, highly recommend.

Andrew Scott is sublime

His voice brings those characters to life so brilliantly. He reads the stories beautifully with such feeling. You’ll be sucked in from the first listen.

A perfect blend of prose and voice.

What a combination! Some of the finest short stories ever written, read by one of the finest actors around. A perfect blend of prose and voice. (Michael)

Wonderful narrator

Anyone who doesn’t weep at the end of The Dead has no soul. An astonishing and emotional narration by Andrew Scott. In all of the stories the characters leap into life...

how can this be so old. we not changed much?

Andrew scott reading to you what's not to like.. interesting story's from a great writer