Little Dorrit

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 31 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Little Dorrit is Amy, born in debtor’s prison, the youngest child of debtor William Dorrit, an inmate of the Marshalsea. The two are befriended by a man whose wife hires Little Dorrit as a seamstress. When William Dorrit inherits a fortune, he escapes the Marshalsea. The family, assuming a station befitting their wealth, travel to Italy.

Public Domain (P)1998 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

“One of the most significant works of the nineteenth century.” (Lionel Trilling)

Gripping

If you could sum up Little Dorrit in three words, what would they be?

Compelling, fluent, beautiful.

What other book might you compare Little Dorrit to and why?

Nicholas Nickelby. Both have characterisations that are descriptively magnificent and story lines that 'race' along in a linguistically serpentine adventure.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

William Dorrit ( little Dorrit's father).

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Funny .......but yes if the truth must be known I have taken to extra long walks just to listen.

Any additional comments?

Charles Dickens is my penchant at the moment. Simon Vance has made the journey just that much more colorful.

The plot is quite convoluted, Vance is great

I don't want to spoil the end for those of you who don't know how Dickens wraps up this story. So I'll just say that I found it quite convoluted, pulling things from a hat - coincidences that are even beyond the typical 19th century coincidences in literature. I also wasn't enamored with the main character, Little Dorrit. She was too selfless. Hillel wisely said "If I am not for myself, who would be for me" - you have to take care of yourself, too. The commandment to love your fellow as yourself means that you have to love yourself first. Little Dorrit is held up as an ideal, and I would consider her psychologically damaged (and there are certainly reasons to be found). In fact, each of the characters could be discussed in depth, and that is what makes this book, in spite of its far-fetched plot devices, very good literature, worth reading (or better, listening to - hey, this is Audible!) Some of the characters are quite amusing, and Dickens, as always, develops them well. And of course, his writing is always a pleasure. But, by far, my favorite parts are the descriptions of the Circumlocution Office. This is simply brilliant, and so entirely appropriate for any government bureaucracy, still so relevant.
Simon Vance is superb in his reading of the book. You can't get better, and he does a wonderful job of portraying each character, and giving each one his/her own voice.
If you like Dickens, you'll like this book, but I would not suggest it as a first introduction to Dickens.

Delightfully interpreted.

What made the experience of listening to Little Dorrit the most enjoyable?

Simon Vance interpreted each of the characters, bringing mood, tone and light to this narrative.

Great narration

Simon Vance portrayed Mrs. Finching and Mr. Dorrit so well, I like the audiobook better than the book.

mushy old story, well read

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Depends if they like Dickens..if yes then for sure

What other book might you compare Little Dorrit to and why?

many other Dickens

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

he's wonderful, especially with the classics.I try to find books that he "reads"

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no...never do

Any additional comments?

not at the moment

One of my favorite Dickens stories.

I love this story, its a true classic with amazing characters, wont be my last time getting lost in this great tale.

Style and Class

I am a great Charles Dickens fan and I have read most of his books several times but I had not gotten around to Little Dorrit. When I purchased this Audible (Blackstone Audiobook) I was very pleased to see it was being read by Simon Vance. The book was charming and Vance with his usual style and class, brings the characters to life. This is a thoroughly pleasurable listen.

Love all Dickens Books

Wonderful and even better the second time. Now listening to All his books for the second time and even better the second time.

Fantastic Narrator!!!

Would you listen to Little Dorrit again? Why?

I would not listen to this book again because it was too long. But I loved listening to it the first time.

What did you like best about this story?

All of the interwoven characters and their stories.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

I loved them all, but Flora was divine.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No I did not.

Any additional comments?

Just a very well performed book, a delight to listen to.

Good for listening to over and over again.

This was recommended to me by a professor I had and I have greatly enjoyed it. I love the way Dickens poked fun at the bureaucratic system and those who prosper from it. A sweet tale of love, generosity and patience, given depth by the troubles and trials endured by all the various characters.

Wonderful story, brilliantly narrated

Yet another Dickens classic! I thoroughly loved the story of Little Dorrit! It's long, yes and very descriptive, but it's so wonderfully brought to life by Simon Vance's excellent narration and characterisation that I just melted into their world and was happily carried along with the tale. I shall certainly look for other stories read by him as he certainly brought the magic of Little Dorrit to life - enjoy!

Magical Dickens

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, this is an intriguing story with lots of wonderful characters.

What did you like best about this story?

Dickens has extend the innocence and evil to the utmost, making both even more intriguing than ever.

What about Simon Vance’s performance did you like?

What a master story teller, and what a beautiful tone of voice. I love his subtle, almost gentle, dramatisation. This man could read horror stories to children at bedtime and generate only wonder and awe.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Little Dorrit - innocence and courage.

Any additional comments?

The combination of Dickens wonderful characters and Simon Vance's narration make this one of the best versions of this intriguing tale.

Brilliant, thoroughly enjoyable

I am a relative newcomer to Dickens and not the sharpest tool in the bookshed, so I surprised myself that I stayed with the plot so closely, rarely getting lost - the excellent, clear, sensitive narration helped here I am sure. My internal backdrop to the story was the BBC dramatisation which I remember quite well, and I suspect that helped too!
A great listen, very memorable.

It's Dickens

It is soppy, idealistic, poetic, emotional and of course has a happy ending after torturing have of England. Most of it needlessly self inflicted by notions of honourable rectitude. It is Dickens and I loved it.

Finally given up at chapter 53!

I'm a fan of Dickens, but not of this. I've found it difficult to get into, and I'm afraid Mr Dorrit's speech impediment has made it impossible to go any further. Simon Vance is good with the narration - too good really, because he's totally in character when reading Mr Dorrit's dialogue, and I would have found it easier on the ear if he'd just dropped the obsequious affectation.

Very disappointed to give up.

I have listed to a number of Dickens books on Audible in the last few years and have thoroughly enjoyed then, but I gave up on this book on Chapter 2, as I just could not bear the narrator. I found his voice lacks charm or charisma and I found myself irritated by his characterisation. Rather than bringing the story to life, It feels like the narrator wants to be the star of the show. I simply couldn't contemplate sitting through another 30 hours of it.

Great

Great
Book hat will cheer people up im doin this review cuz my audible file is stuck