Charles Dickens
A Life
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Charles Dickens
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Narrated by:
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Alex Jennings
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By:
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Claire Tomalin
About this listen
The unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Charles Dickens: A Life, the major new biography from the highly acclaimed Claire Tomalin, published for the 200th anniversary of his birth. Read by the actor Alex Jennings. Charles Dickens was a phenomenon: a demonically hardworking journalist, the father of ten children, a tireless walker and traveller, a supporter of liberal social causes, but most of all a great novelist - the creator of characters who live immortally in the English imagination: the Artful Dodger, Mr Pickwick, Pip, David Copperfield, Little Nell, Lady Dedlock, and many more. At the age of twelve he was sent to work in a blacking factory by his affectionate but feckless parents. From these unpromising beginnings, he rose to scale all the social and literary heights, entirely through his own efforts. When he died, the world mourned, and he was buried - against his wishes - in Westminster Abbey.
Yet the brilliance concealed a divided character: a republican, he disliked America; sentimental about the family in his writings, he took up passionately with a young actress; usually generous, he cut off his impecunious children. Claire Tomalin, author of Whitbread Book of the Year Samuel Pepys, paints an unforgettable portrait of Dickens, capturing brilliantly the complex character of this great genius. Charles Dickens: A Life is the examination of Dickens we deserve. Alex Jennings is an associate actor with the RSC and has also worked with the Royal National Theatre. He was Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, for which he won the second of his Olivier Awards for Best Actor in a Musical. He played Charles, Prince of Wales in the film The Queen, and his TV appearances include The State Within, Inspector Morse and the title role in Ashenden.
He's a prolific reader of audiobooks, the most notable of which are The Horse and his Boy, Oliver Twist and Attention All Shipping.
©2011 Claire Tomalin (P)2011 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Christine
- 23-12-12
Readable and enjoyable biography
Claire tomalin has a knack of bringing characters to life in her biographies, and as with Samuel Pepys, she brings Charles Dickens to life, covering his formative relationships and his key influences. This audiobook is easy to follow and well read, highly recommended.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- evaowl
- 04-05-14
Addictive
What made the experience of listening to Charles Dickens the most enjoyable?
Take an Italian listner that read Dickens in her school years. Translated and reduced - of course - and did not like it at all. Take the same person enjoying every single word of this vast biography - while pretty busy knitting, commuting or even ironing, and you'll know why she is halfway through Bleak house, right now. Being a biography there is nothing to add about the work, if not that it gives you far more than the story of a peculiar human being and his time. It is simply amazing.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 23-05-23
excellent
Enjoyed this - what a complex man. Always happy to listen to Alex Jennings, whatever he reads.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Miss
- 14-07-15
Exceptional
This is an amazing book that brings Dickens and his world to life. Whether you are a big Dickens fan or are intrigued about the life of a great Englishman you will love this book.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- a.hopewell
- 24-03-18
Outstanding Biography
first class biography, beautifully read. The Sickens of many facets and faces. Excellent, first class
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Amazon Customer
- 28-11-13
Heros aren't saints
If you could sum up Charles Dickens in three words, what would they be?
The person: Complex, unpleasant, flawed
The Book: Brilliant, insightful, compelling
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
His dreadful attitude to his wife who endured 10 live births and he complained she had become fat and dumps her for a younger woman. He then tried his hardest to stop his children having anything to do with their mother.
Any additional comments?
I knew nothing about Charles Dickens as a person. I don't like his books (except Tale of Two Cities) particularly his characterization of women who are generally damaged goods or wimps. I'd heard positive things about Claire Tomalin's biography so was interested to learn more and I'd enjoyed her Samuel Pepys. This is a fantastic book. Although it did nothing to endear me to Dickens who I think is a despicable person although he was generous to some people - as Ms Tomalin says - he brought people from the margins of Victorian society (eg the poor and disabled) to the centre stage and made his readers realise that they are human beings (we sorely need a Dickens today) who should be treated with dignity and respect (pity he didn't extend these sentiments to his wife!). I didn't know he was a republican and refused to kowtow to royalty (so he did have a redeeming feature!). Ms Tomalin also points out that we are inclined to expect our heros to be saints - yes they are as flawed as the rest of us!I think this a brilliant book and a worthy winner of the Costa Book Award.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Roderic
- 12-12-13
Excellent and competent biography, narrated well
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. It is a clear, insightful summary of the life of Charles Dickens.
What did you like best about this story?
It succeeded in giving significant detail as well as insights into Dickens without being too long or dry.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- AnnG
- 26-01-15
Thoroughly enjoyable
I really did enjoy Alex Jennings narration, he has a lovely voice that can,uncannily, become female to male, high born to low in the blink of an eye.
The book itself, is a must have for the Dickens devotee or simply for a good read, it has been thoroughly well researched by Miss Tomlin.
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- Gillian
- 23-04-16
Wonderful
I am no writer; suffice to say I will be listening to this audible book written by Claire Tomalin again and again and wonderfully narrated by Alex Jennings.
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- bc1056
- 01-01-23
Very interesting
I knew nothing really about Dickens before listening to this book - but really well written by Claire Tomalin and very well narrated
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