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Nicholas Nickleby Audiobook
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(3.00) - 14,899 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
The most gorgeously theatrical of all Dickens’ novels, Nicholas Nickleby follows the delightful adventures of a hearty young hero in nineteenth-century England. Nicholas, a gentleman’s son fallen upon hard times, must set out to make his way in the world. His journey is accompanied by some of the most swaggering scoundrels and unforgettable eccentrics in Dickens’ pantheon.
From the dungeon-like Yorkshire boys’ boarding school run by the cruel Wackford Squeers to the high-spirited stage of Vincent Crummles’ extraordinary acting troupe, Nicholas Nickleby is a triumph of the imagination, bursting with color, humor, and poignant social commentary.
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"Nicholas is a wonderful character: brash and hot-headed, he often gets himself in trouble. But his courage, unerring loyalty and faultless goodness always get him out again. Like all of Dickens' books, this one contains an unforgettable array of characters, including great villains such as Ralph Nickleby (a foreshadow of Ebenezer Scrooge, without the final redemption), Wackford Squeers and Sir Mulberry Hawk; as well as the hilarious, outrageous, flamboyant, foul-mouthed Mr. Mantalini. I adored this book and will read it again!"
— Misha (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Nicholas Nickleby was a revelation…As well as being sympathetic to the plight of the children, the author was hilarious.”
— A. N. Wilson, New York Times bestselling author -
“Charles Dickens’s shallowest novel—and his most fun to read. Nicholas is a stick figure…but you’ll hardly mind the hero’s one-dimensionality because the novel belongs to its comical supporting cast.”
— Washington Post -
“The novel has everything: an absorbing melodrama, with a supporting cast of heroes, villains, and eccentrics, set in a London where vast wealth and desperate poverty live cheek-by-jow.”
— The Times (London) -
“For those of us who love Dickens, this is exactly what we love best: the hearty hero, the evil scoundrel, the benevolent benefactors, humor, social commentary, and, best of all, the vast array of eccentrics…[Robert Whitfield] covers the gamut from effete snob to exhausted street urchin, and not only manages to keep them all straight, but infuses into every one a distinct personality. This is a feast!”
— AudioFile -
“Wonderfully narrated by Whitfield, whose outstanding ability to impersonate characters from all stations in life in varying British dialects makes this epic tale a fantastic listening marathon.”
— Booklist
Awards
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A Washington Post Pick of Favorite Escapist Novels
Nicholas Nickleby Listener Reviews
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" Blast! I can't remember who anyone is... "
— Debra, 2/7/2014 -
" This is the first dickens work I've read that I can remember. The story while engrossing played a minor character to the language and dialog which was addictive. I found myself thinking in dickens voice. Further, while I read in the 21st century, and it was at times difficult to relate to the hardships of the characters, dickens is somehow able to transcend time. i could even appreciate the humorous way in which he portrays mrs nicklby's over dramatized situations and interpretations of events. "
— Lisa, 2/6/2014 -
" I am a big fan of Dickens but I didn't really enjoy this story. I struggled to connect with the characters, although I did feel sorry for Smike. "
— Janet, 1/23/2014 -
" Riotously funny novel set on the streets of 19th century London. I was living in London when I read it 20 years ago and it really brought the history of that wonderful city to life. A joy to read. "
— Teri, 1/18/2014 -
" This one has that classic Dickens feel, but at the same time it has some refreshing nuances in store. "
— Leah, 1/16/2014 -
" I am such a Dickens fan and this book is one of my favorite of his. Such a sweet story of redemption and love. The movie with Anne Hathaway does a wonderful job of giving this book justice. "
— Andrea, 1/10/2014 -
" In my opinion, you can never go wrong with Charles Dickens. "
— Nancy, 1/8/2014 -
" Fantastic sentences! Great characters. Nicholas shows what it is to be a good and honorable man in the face of evil challenges from Ralph Nickleby his Uncle. Some of the best actual writing I have ever read. "
— Mick, 11/21/2013 -
" Reading this one again, this time to my kids. They picked it out at an old bookstore and asked me to...i was putty I'm their hands. It's one of the old original ones, I have to be very careful while reading it. "
— Jen, 9/24/2013 -
" What is not to love about Nicholas Nickleby? Everything you love in normal Dickens, plus righteous fisticuffs. "
— Felicity, 8/7/2013 -
" It was a good story that made me want to keep reading. It was a bit wordy; Dickins must have been paid by the word. "
— Tom, 8/5/2013 -
" I love Dickens, but at 831 pages, even this highly entertaining book was a little much. I will write more about it when I can find the time! "
— Jackie, 4/20/2013 -
" Probably my favorite Charles Dickens book so far. It was nice to have something end without too much sadness like his other books. I love following the everyday life, challenges and character development of Dicken's. "
— Micah, 12/28/2012 -
" Charles Dickens is my all-time favorite author. Nicholas Nickleby and David Copperfield are my top two favorites. "
— Debbie, 9/24/2012 -
" Here's the trick to reading this book: Don't get bogged down in the details. Each chapter is a vignette, usually humorous. The second hint is to watch the 2002 movie version to get the overview. "
— Kit, 9/3/2012 -
" Nicholas Nickleby is one of my favorite books because of the humor and the human element of good vs evil. And fortunately good does triumph in the end! "
— Linda, 8/10/2012 -
" I have finally finished. It was enjoyable for the most part but Dickens can get a little tedious at times. "
— Dale, 5/24/2012
About Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was born in Landport, Portsmouth, England, the second of eight children in a family continually plagued by debt. A legacy brought release from the nightmare of debtors’ prison and child labor and afforded him a few years of formal schooling. He worked as an attorney’s clerk and newspaper reporter until his early writings brought him the amazing success that was to be his for the remainder of his life. He was the most popular English novelist of the Victorian era, and he remains popular, responsible for some of English literature’s most iconic characters.
About Simon Vance
Simon Vance (a.k.a. Robert Whitfield) is an award-winning actor and narrator. He has earned more than fifty Earphones Awards and won the prestigious Audie Award for best narration thirteen times. He was named Booklist’s very first Voice of Choice in 2008 and has been named an AudioFile Golden Voice as well as an AudioFile Best Voice of 2009. He has narrated more than eight hundred audiobooks over almost thirty years, beginning when he was a radio newsreader for the BBC in London. He is also an actor who has appeared on both stage and television.