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Nicholas Nickleby

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Nicholas Nickleby

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Alex Jennings
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About this listen

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One of Dickens' early works, Nicholas Nickleby combines comedy and tragedy in a tale of triumph over adversity that is interspersed with Dickens' moving condemnation of society's mistreatment of children and the cruelty of the educational system. Young Nickleby struggles to seek his fortune in Victorian England, yet succeeds despite social injustice, in a story that mirrors Dickens' own rise from poverty to great success.

One of eight children, Dickens came from a very poor family, with his father eventually being sent to debtor's prison. At the age of 12, Dickens was forced to start work in a blacking factory in order to help clear the family debt.

Dickens depicts a funny version of his own mother in the character of Mrs. Nickleby, his feelings towards her dark and complex. He never forgave her for trying to keep him working against her husband's wishes.

Hailed as a comic triumph with a cast of incredible characters, it firmly established Dickens as a 'literary gentleman'.

Full of typically Dickensian elements, the book is well suited to dramatic adaptation.

It is widely regarded as one of the greatest comic masterpieces of 19th century literature and continues to entertain its fans to this day.

Narrator Biography

Three-time Olivier Award winner actor Alex Jennings has had an extensive career with the Royal Shakespeare Company and National Theatre. His recent stage performances have included Willy Wonka in 2014's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical and Professor Henry Higgins in the 2016 Australian 60th Anniversary production of My Fair Lady. In 2006 he played Prince Charles opposite Helen Mirren in The Queen and has had other roles in films such as Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason (2004), Babel (2006) and The Lady in the Van (2015). His television work has included the BBC TV series Cranford (2007) and long running legal drama Silk (2011-2014). In 2016 he featured in the Netflix series The Crown and the ITV series Victoria. He has narrated many audiobooks including Attention All Shipping by Charlie Connelly, which in 2008 was chosen as one of the top 40 audiobooks of all time.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc. Classics Funny Thought-Provoking

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All stars
Most relevant  
I was put off CD because I imagined the stories would be dull and difficult. I was wrong. At least so far, NN is my first but it will not be the last.



To my slight shame, I had no idea that Dickens was so funny - and also so moving in so much of his writing. This tale, which is long and populated by dozens of amazing characters, is not, despite that, complex, it just slowly unfurls.



Pathos, even tragedy do take their parts, but the humour is always threaded through the story, often with pleasant little diversions away from the main plot simply, I assume, for the enjoyment of the writer and reader.



Alex Jennings is one of my favourite readers. His voice is perfect when he's just reading but when he gives each character its own 'voice' it's very hard to imagine they are all being read by the same person. He brings out the life and the humour. Another reviewer said that he reads the twin brothers as a Tony Benn impression - it's true! I would like to add that he reads the Squeers family as various Les Dawson incarnations - hilarious.



If, as I was, you are a Charles Dickens virgin (and at my stage of life, I really had no excuse, Lord knows how I avoided it at school), I urge you to try this download and persist beyond the first 45 minutes or so, because after that, I believe you will be hooked.

From a Dickens 'virgin': a perfect five stars

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It is with reluctance that I have put this audiobook aside but I know it will only be temporary as it has been such a pleasure to well, inhabit; and this is due to the brilliant reading by Alex Jennings of this novel about the true goal of life.

Dickens on the page can be almost over-florid for me, but the sensitivity of Jennings reading gave life and a humane perspective to this well-loved author and his characters became much more alive for me. The proposal 'a comfortable couple' and the doctor's dandling the baby are just two highlights. Definitely one of my alltime favourites.

One of the best audiobooks I've ever heard

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This is a rollercoaster of a novel with great drama and suspense. It centres about the fortunes of an endearing hero, Nicholas N. with a generous cast of villains and angels. It’s entertaining and articulate but also a social critique of the period - poverty, avarice and child abuse with hardly a veneer of respectability concealing unspoken lechery.
Perhaps a narrative with too many subplots, to be as famous as Dickens’ better known works. There are however many scenes that would successfully support a film script, perhaps too late to be fashionable. The language is of course dated but setting-the-scene descriptions are brilliant - notably the Races at Hampton.
However if you enjoy Dickens then this is vivid, w great caricatures and humour in a dark Victorian reflection.
Alex Jennings is an exemplary narrator; accomplishing multiple voices consistently and is unusually versatile.

Great caricatures and humour in a dark Victorian reflection

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Nearly 35 hours is a long time to listen to a book, so thank goodness it's read by Alex Jennings, whose narration skills are up there with Martin Jarvis'.
I have watched the film of Nicholas Nickleby a few times, and had no idea how much more there is to the story. It's so well written, and goes into so much intricate detail of daily life of the time.
However, typically of Charles Dickens, he does 'go on a bit' at times, and I must admit, I may have nodded off a few times.
How Alex Jennings manages to come up with a different accent and voice for every character, male and female, I do not know, but he does a tremendous job and I applaud him.
It's a wonderful story, and one which everyone should know of, but 35 hours of it is not for the faint-hearted.
I would purchase a book read by Alex Jennings without even knowing what it was about. I've listened to his rendition of Pompeii twice and he does an equally excellent job.

More to the story than the film teaches you.

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Although this book did have some sad bits, I think it the best Dickens book I have read so far. It was witty and you just knew luck was on his side. I loved it.

Cheerfull

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A breathtaking story of the trials and journey of Nicolas and the struggle against his uncle. Like all Dickens stories it has depth and tragedy along with humour and who could fail to learn to love the character that is Newman Noggs?

A breathtaking tale

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I hadn't realised Dickens was so funny. I expected the wonderful plot and splendidly rendered Victorian ambiance but the real surprise of this novel for me was the humour. I laughed so often throughout. The balance of serious and sinister versus gut burs tingly funny is magnificent. I can't wait to read, or listen to, all of Dickens other works!

Far more entertaining than expected

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An extremely absorbing book narrated brilliantly, some parts needed to be listened to a couple of time due way it is written, but some great new words have been discovered in the process. the broad Yorkshire accent of John Browdie was a little difficult to understand but you can get still follow the scene. Totally absorbing story that will take you through a range of emotions.

What a fantastic book superbly narrated

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thought I'd never listen to Dickens but after I started I was hooked. lovely to listen to civilized people with values instead of the modern downtime guff going about these days. well worth a listen.

great long tale

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Alex Jennings performance brought this classic Dickens tale to life. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Great narrator

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