Martin Chuzzlewit Audiobook By Charles Dickens cover art

Martin Chuzzlewit

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Martin Chuzzlewit

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Frederick Davidson
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Wealthy and old, Martin Chuzzlewit, Sr. is surrounded by greedy relatives hoping to obtain a portion of his estate upon his death. Of his two descendants, born and bred in the same heritage of selfishness, one, Martin Jr., has the good fortune to transform, while the other, Jonas, does not and receives a fatal penalty.Public Domain (P)1995 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Classics

Critic reviews

"Davidson's fully voiced reading is marvelous and adds a great deal to the as-if spoken prose style in which it is written." ( KLIATT)
Masterful Storytelling • Entertaining Characters • Insightful Social Commentary • Brilliant Ending • Humorous Elements
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Never heaqrd of it? dont think less of this book if its so. Its a great story. In fact the only dickens novels I would suggest passing by are Barnaby Rudge and The mystery of Edwin Drood. At the risk of being swarmed I also think a tale of two cities is below par and a misfit in his collection, two cities is one of those rare books that makes a much better movie than book. See the 1930's movie edition of two cities and you may agree. I read it twice so Im comfortable in my criticism.. Dickens is by far my favorite author. Like beer in book form, high praise indeedee.
The narrator may not seem your cup of tea, but once you get used to him you find him quite the talent. Ive listened to many books by him and will trust him in the future, but for some he may just seem too much...which is too bad.. their loss.

RECOMMEND YOU CONSIDER THIS ONE

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Since I rely so heavily on other listener's reviews, I'm compelled to write one for this before I'm finished with it, as I do not agree with giving this 5 stars. Three stars is even a stretch for this book, but the entertaining narrator tips the balance to 3.

This "book" was released in monthly installments, and it shows - there are long passages that have little to do with the story in almost every other chapter, which adversely affects the continuity of the story. The author admits in the preface that the portrait of America in the book are not supposed to be authentic and that is a understatement - it's very fictionalized and savagely protrayed. It may be that the readers of England in the 1840s were eager to see America as a wilderness and the inhabitants be portrayed negativley.

This is very long meandering story, that has some interesting characters(although no likable main ones, excepting Mark Tapley). Athough it's read quite well, it's not for everyone. I was looking for more books like the excellent series in the Forsyte saga, but this is nowhere near as good.

A montly installement series turned into a book.

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narration was incredible. Davidson is a master and brings Dickens's characters to life. Get it.

great listen

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I am a lover of anything Dickens. At first I was unsure about “Martin Chuzzlewit” but am so happy I did. It is such an insightful story of America and England. And greed. Great stories that come together in the end.

Dickens at his best

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I have really tried to like this story, but I don't get it. I'm not sure who the main character is and nobody is really likeable.

I really love Dickens, but...

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Would you try another book from Charles Dickens and/or Frederick Davidson?

No

What didn’t you like about Frederick Davidson’s performance?

Narration does not vary with the moment -- the tone is always the same -- no matter what is happening and the drawl is quite annoying.

Any additional comments?

Very few narrators can do Dickens well. Definitely not Frederick Davidson.

Narrator ruined it for me

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Frederick Davidson nails the whole cast of characters which helps lay plain this long and amusing serial novel.

Excellent performance

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I don't think Martin Chuzzlewit is the most popular of Dickens's works, and there are reasons not to like it -- it's not very well plotted and the motivation of the main characters isn't quite clear. I've always loved it because of Pecksniff -- so unctuous and hypocritical that you can hardly wait to hear what he'll say or do next. And then there is Mrs. Gamp, one of the oddest and funniest creations in literature. Tom Pinch has the role of the too-good-to-be-true character usually reserved for the Dickens females, and Jonas Chuzzlewit is as nasty a bad guy as you could want. The Anglo Bengalese Disinterested Life and Assurance Company alone is worth the price of admission. The slapped-on America bashing is artificial. We probably have national vices as bad as those portrayed, but not quite the same ones anymore, I think. Mr. Davidson is always good with Dickens (I have listened to him read 3 or 4 of the novels now.) Full of interest and (despite the flaws) always one of my favorites. Isn't that the way with Dickens -- a thousand wrongs somehow all coalesce into a work of genius.

A favorite Dickens

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Sometimes Dickens has so many characters its hard to recall who is who, but not this one. This novel has three main evil characters a thief, a murderer and an all around dreadful person. Dickens said this was one of his best books. I thought the narration was excellent. For the pure the female characters were not done well (performed by a man). For me it took some of the appeal away from Mrs. Gamp. I don't think you have to be a devout Dickens fan to love this one.

One of Dickens Favorites

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epic that reminds me of politicians scheming after the public purse. a highly recommended listen.

wonderful

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