Showing results by author "Charles Dickens" in All Categories

Through the immortal characters of Oliver, Nancy, Bill Sikes, Fagin, the Artful Dodger and Mr. Bumble, Dickens mercilessly sends up the hypocrisy of 19th century life: the high-minded reformism of the intellectuals and the snobbery of those in power.

Hard Times is the tenth novel by Charles Dickens, first published in 1854. The book surveys English society and satirizes the social and economic conditions of the era. Hard Times is unusual in several ways. It is by far the shortest of Dickens's novels, barely a quarter of the length of those written immediately before and after it. Moreover, it is his only novel not to have scenes set in London. Instead, the story is set in the fictitious Victorian industrial Coketown, a generic Northern English mill-town.

Barnaby Rudge, published in 1841, is Dickens's first historical novel, largely set during the Gordon Riots of 1780. It was the fifth of Dickens's novels to be published. It had initially been planned to appear as his first, but changes of publisher led to many delays. British historian and Dickens biographer Peter Ackroyd has called it "one of Dickens's most neglected, but most rewarding, novels".

In A Christmas Carol a mean old man named Ebenezer Scrooge sits at his office on a cold Christmas Eve. His clerk, Bob Cratchit, shivers with cold because Scrooge refuses to spend money on heating. Scrooge's nephew, Fred, visits him and invites him to a Christmas party, as he does every year. Two gentlemen drop by and ask Scrooge for a contribution to their charity. Scrooge reacts to both his nephew and the two gentlemen with bitterness and venom. Later that evening, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his dead partner, Jacob Marley.

Here is our version of Charles Dickens classic story, "A Christmas Carol." This is a fully dramatized performance including sound effects and music and a full range of voice actors.

Charles Dickens was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. THE SHORT-TIMERS: Within so many yards of this Covent-garden lodging of mine, as within so many yards of Westminster Abbey, Saint Paul's Cathedral, the Houses of Parliament, the Prisons, the Courts of Justice, all the Institutions that govern the land, I can find must find...

The Essential Classics: Volume 7 brings together 5 of the greatest classics ever written, perfectly read by an esteemed cast including Jonathan Keeble, Kristin Atherton, Emma Gregory, and Matt Bates. From the charming and compassionate world of Cranford to the ambitious and tragic tale of Jude the Obscure, this volume is a rich tapestry of human experience. Daniel Deronda challenges notions of identity, morality, and destiny, while Evelina offers a sharp yet humorous commentary on social class and manners.

Wreck of the Golden Mary is a poignant tale of courage and endurance at sea. When a ship bound for California is wrecked off Cape Horn, passengers and crew must struggle to survive in the unforgiving ocean. This short yet powerful story, penned by Charles Dickens, weaves themes of sacrifice, hope, and human resilience in the face of disaster. If you love classic literature and tales of survival, don’t miss this moving account.

Nell and her elderly grandfather find themselves on the run after losing their beloved shop and home to the sinister Mr. Quilp. Desperate and determined, Nell’s irresponsible brother believes their grandfather is hiding a fortune meant for her. Teaming up with Quilp, he plots to track them down, aiming to marry Nell off to his easily manipulated friend Nick in hopes of claiming the treasure for himself. Can Nell outsmart her pursuers and escape this grim destiny? The story begins with the first three chapters narrated by Master Humphrey, a character from Dickens other work, Master Humphreys ...

Dive into the world of Little Dorrit, one of Charles Dickens’ most profound novels, published in monthly installments between 1855 and 1857. Drawing inspiration from his fathers imprisonment in Marshalsea Prison for debt, Dickens weaves a tale that explores the depths of human experience and societal struggles. The story unfolds in the notorious Marshalsea, where we meet Mr. Dorrit, a long-term inmate, and his daughter Amy, affectionately known as Little Dorrit, who was born within the prison walls. As she grows, her kindness and resilience earn her the respect and love of her fellow inmates...

Here is Charles Dickens' semi-autobiographical tale of a boy who is sent away by his stepfather after his mother dies but manages to overcome many incredible adversities.

The Chuzzlewits are a family divided by money and selfishness; even young Martin, the eponymous hero, is arrogant and self-centered. He offends his grandfather by falling in love with the latter’s ward, Mary, and sets out to make his own fortune in life, travelling as far as America – which produces from Dickens a savage satire on a new world tainted with the vices of the old. Martin’s nature slowly changes through his bitter experience of life and his enduring love for Mary.

A Christmas Carol is the best-known and best-loved of Dickens' Christmas books, and the story of the miser Scrooge's redemption has become as much part of the Christmas tradition as plum pudding and carols themselves.

The Mudfog Papers is a delightfully absurd collection of essays and sketches that captures the wit, satire, and sharp social commentary that made Dickens one of the greatest writers of his time. Set in the fictional town of Mudfog, the series of quirky and eccentric characters come to life in this hilarious exploration of small-town politics, public life, and human nature.

2012 was the 200th anniversary of Dickens' birth. This is the fifth and last volume; the first volume of short works - fiction, essays, poetry and speeches, previously unrecorded for LibriVox, was catalogued by Dickens' birthday on February 7th 2012, and further volumes followed throughout the anniversary year. (Summary by Ruth Golding)

The Charles Dickens 200th Anniversary Collection comprises short works previously unrecorded for LibriVox - fiction, essays, poetry, letters, magazine articles and speeches - and each volume will be a potpourri of all genres and periods of his writing. This first volume was released on Dickens' 200th birthday, February 7th 2012 and further volumes followed during the anniversary year.Volume 1 includes short stories including, amongst others, The Holly Tree, the first part of Holiday Romance and three pieces from Mugby Junction.Some items requiring a little further explanation are Prince Bull, ...

2012 is the 200th anniversary of Dickens' birth. This is the third volume of this collection, which aimed to catalogue as many as possible of Dickens' short works which had not previously been recorded for LibriVox. (Summary by Ruth Golding)

2012 was the 200th anniversary of Dickens' birth. This is the fourth volume; the first volume of short works - fiction, essays, poetry and speeches, previously unrecorded for LibriVox, was catalogued by Dickens' birthday on February 7th 2012. Further volumes were added during the anniversary year. (Summary by Ruth Golding)

Little Nell and her grandfather are forced to leave their curiosity shop and live as beggars. Peopled with such unforgettable characters as Daniel Quilp, Dick Swiveller, Thomas Codlin, Kit Nubbles, and Sampson and Sarah Brass, this Dickens classic is a real tearjerker.

Pictures from Italy is a travelogue by Charles Dickens, written in 1846. The book reveals the concerns of its author as he presents, according to Kate Flint, the country "like a chaotic magic-lantern show, fascinated both by the spectacle it offers, and by himself as spectator".