Nicholas Nickleby: Dickens on Dickens

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Gerald Dickens

Length: 36 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

Charles Dickens' Nicholas Nickleby performed by his great-great-grandson Gerald Dickens. A tale that brings to life the adventures of Nicholas Nickleby as he meets the wicked Wackfors Squeers, the theatrical Crumbles, and the cheerful Cheerybyle Brothers (to name a few). Complete and unabridged.

Public Domain (P)2012 Create

Excellent narrator

Gerald Dickens is an excellent narrator....enunciation, variation for each character, pacing of narration, clarity, emphasis....everything just right. I have heard him narrate other Charles Dickens books, and he does a fine job in each. I wish there were more titles in the Dickens on Dickens category.

As for the story, well, if you like Charles Dickens, you will enjoy Nickleby. It is not as good as Tale of Two Cities nor as Oliver Twist, but it is better than Great Expectations and Bleak House....or so I think. A good story with vivid characters...some you will love and a few villains you will hate...especially ONE!!!

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

nice reader

Would you listen to Nicholas Nickleby: Dickens on Dickens again? Why?

Very enjoyable low-key reader. Fun story, a little sappy even for Dickens. I would listen again.

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Browdie. He is steady, has a great sense of humor. No nonsense.

What about Gerald Dickens’s performance did you like?

Did a good job with the different voices, but the narration was especially good - like he actually knew the meaning of what he was reading.
I'm sure it's not his fault there are some editing errors in the last quarter of the book, where you hear him restart sentences or correct himself.

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

Dickens always makes me laugh out loud. This story did have me crying at several points, mostly related to Smike.

Any additional comments?

Really one of the best Dickens readers I've heard.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Long as Dickens was paid by the word!

Wonderful Dickens story of London an the rich and poor. Beautifully read. Love the various accents

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wonderful narration of a wonderful novel!

Gerald Dickens is a wonderful narrator! I am sorry that Audible / Amazon do not seem to have chosen his readings for the Whispersynch versions. It is still easy to follow along on the Kindle version by using the table of contents. But frankly, reading it to myself is much less engaging than listening to Mr. Dickens.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Enjoyed the narration

Any additional comments?

I think this narrator is great. Even my 11 year old son was drawn into the story - due largely to the appealing performance. We especially enjoyed Mr. Dickens reading of Fanny Squeers lines.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Dickens read by Dickens

This is as good as audible literature gets. Plot, characters, and morals all presented in a voice that understands and enhances the mastery of the author.

Dickens does Dickens

Would you listen to Nicholas Nickleby: Dickens on Dickens again? Why?

Definitely, I don't know why having a relative read the story should make it feel more intimate but it does. Obviously a professional at reading his great grandfathers books he brings a cultured, refined approach to a great Dickens novel

What was one of the most memorable moments of Nicholas Nickleby: Dickens on Dickens?

The beating of Squeers is wonderful. As usual in Dickens bad characters get some kind of come uppance and he gets it in such a wonderful way.

What about Gerald Dickens’s performance did you like?

The feeling that he truly believes in all the characters, that he treats them like friends

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

It's Dickens so you run the entire range of emotions

Any additional comments?

Dickens on Dickens brings a classic story a new edge. Well worth the time invested in listening.

Narration is the real joy here

I bought this title primarily for the skill of the narrator. Having previously bought Oliver Twist; Dickens on Dickens, I knew that I was in for an auditory treat. Gerald Dickens brings the characters to life, showcases a wide range of voices, comic, sinister, serious, and humourous as each case requires, dealing as adroitly with the female as the male. Charles Dickens gave public readings of his works, and I like to imagine that his vocal talent and characteristics are echoed in this narration, which gives it an edge over other narrations. It's a joy to listen to and the story is, of course, excellent as well. I commend the title and others in the series, especially for fans of Dickens' work.