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Hard Times
- The Audible Dickens Collection
- Narrated by: Bertie Carvel, Jeremy Paxman
- Length: 10 hrs and 58 mins
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Publisher's summary
This exclusive recording of Hard Times contains a unique introduction by Jeremy Paxman in which he takes us through Hard Times as his favourite Dickens title.
To give it its full title, Hard Times - for These Times was Charles Dickens' 10th novel and the only one not to have any scenes set in London. It was first published in 1854 and depicts the struggles that were born as a result of the industrial revolution.
About the book
'Teach these boys and girls nothing but Facts. Facts alone are wanted in life.' So says Thomas Gradgrind, a wealthy, utilitarian school board superintendent. Father to Tom and Louisa, he shapes the minds of all the young children, including his own, with the exception of only one: the circus-born Sissy Jupe.
As the novel progresses, we see the lives of these three young children unfold, shaped by the beliefs and values they've been taught by their respective fathers and educators. Growing into a beautiful yet miserable young lady, Louisa is wed off to an associate of her father's. Tom, dulled by his strict upbringing, becomes a dissipated, hedonistic gambler, and Sissy, their imaginative, creative and selfless guiding light, seeks to repair the damage done to her friends by years of utilitarian training.
About the author
With his father incarcerated, Charles Dickens had to abandon his studies at a young age and set to work in a factory so as to support himself. Despite his short-lived education, Dickens went on to write 15 novels and various articles, novellas and short stories. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became, unlike Josiah Bounderby, the ultimate self-made man.
About the narrator
Known for his versatility and for "making monsters and demons understood", Bertie Carvel has twice won the Olivier Award: for his performances as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda and Rupert Murdoch in Ink. On television he was Jonathan Strange in Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, Nick Clegg in Coalition and the cheating husband in Doctor Foster. In this definitive audiobook of Hard Times, Carvel's presence and range shine through to gripping effect.
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Anthony Trollope’s The Warden was the first of Trollope’s hugely successful Barchester Chronicles, appearing in 1855 and reversing the rather unfortunate sales of his previous three novels. It concerns the story of Mr. Septimus Harding, Warden of Hiram's Hospital almshouses and Precentor of Barchester Cathedral.
By: Anthony Trollope
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The Shuttle
- By: Frances Hodgson Burnett
- Narrated by: Tabi That
- Length: 19 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Rosalie Vanderpoel, the daughter of an American multimillionaire marries an impoverished English baronet and goes to live in England. She all but loses contact with her family in America. Years later her younger sister Bettina, beautiful, intelligent and extremely rich, goes to England to find what has happened to her sister. She finds Rosalie shabby and dispirited, cowed by her husband's ill-treatment. Bettina sets about to rectify matters.
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More than Lovely
- By jTacy67 on 01-17-18
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A Room with a View
- By: E. M. Forster
- Narrated by: Rebecca Hall
- Length: 7 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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In this rich new audio production, acclaimed British American actress Rebecca Hall brings one of E. M. Forster's most admired works to life in this classic tale of human struggle. A charming young Englishwoman, Lucy Honeychurch, is wooed by both free-spirited George Emerson and wealthy Cecil Vyse while vacationing in Italy. Though attracted to George, Lucy becomes engaged to Cecil despite twice turning down his proposals. On hearing of the news, George confesses his love, leaving Lucy torn between marrying the more socially acceptable Cecil or George, the man she knows would bring her true happiness. Should Lucy choose social acceptance or true love?
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A lovely performance, and a wonderful story
- By Robert on 01-19-19
By: E. M. Forster
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Lady Audley's Secret
- By: Mary Elizabeth Braddon
- Narrated by: Olivia Poulet
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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From the author of The Christmas Hirelings comes this Audible Exclusive production of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s classic sensation novel Lady Audley’s Secret. English actress Olivia Poulet gives an assured and captivating narration; a cornerstone of the genre and a scandal at the time of its publication, Lady Audley’s Secret is an entertaining and shocking tale of high drama and shifting perceptions.
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Classic 19th Century “sensation novel”
- By Susan on 08-20-19
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Jane Eyre
- By: Charlotte Brontë
- Narrated by: Thandiwe Newton
- Length: 19 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Following Jane from her childhood as an orphan in Northern England through her experience as a governess at Thornfield Hall, Charlotte Brontë's Gothic classic is an early exploration of women's independence in the mid-19th century and the pervasive societal challenges women had to endure. At Thornfield, Jane meets the complex and mysterious Mr. Rochester, with whom she shares a complicated relationship that ultimately forces her to reconcile the conflicting passions of romantic love and religious piety.
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Perfect!!
- By Amazon Customer on 04-21-16
By: Charlotte Brontë
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The Best Ghost Stories Ever Told
- Best Stories Ever Told
- By: Stephen Brennan - editor
- Narrated by: J. M. Badger, Imelda Pot
- Length: 24 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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A big, brilliant, spooky collection of classic and contemporary ghost stories that will make you hesitate before turning off that light.
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A very mixed review
- By Michael Mayer on 08-05-15
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Howards End
- By: E. M. Forster
- Narrated by: Steven Crossley
- Length: 11 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Howards End is a beautifully subtle tale of two very different families brought together by an unusual event. The Schlegels are intellectuals, devotees of art and literature. The Wilcoxes are practical and materialistic, leading lives of "telegrams and anger". When the elder Mrs. Wilcox dies and her family discovers she has left their country home - Howards End - to one of the Schlegel sisters, a crisis between the two families is precipitated that takes years to resolve.
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Fantastic Narration in Delightful Story
- By Wren on 05-05-18
By: E. M. Forster
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Perfect narrator for one of the best classics.
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History repeats
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Excellent, but second best...
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Crime and Punishment
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Often considered one of the first ever psychological thrillers, Crime and Punishment is a gripping tale of a poverty-stricken young man in Saint Petersburg, Russia, who hatches a plan to kill someone for money. Once the deed is done, he finds himself racked with guilt, confusion and disgust for his act. In this new recording, Will Poulter gives new life to the troubled protagonist, Rodion Raskolnikov, in a performance that will have you questioning where we draw the line between right and wrong.
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A Christmas Carol
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First published in 1843, it tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean and unpleasant man who dislikes people generally and Christmas especially. One Christmas Eve he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come and given a glimpse of the many homes and lives which Scrooge has touched in his wretched life to date. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.
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Christmas Classic Given New Life
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Exclusively from Audible. 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.' So begins Charles Dickens' most famous historical drama: a gripping tale of war, social injustice and the choice between darkness and light. After being unjustly imprisoned for 18 years, French doctor Manette is released from the Bastille jail in Paris and embarks upon a journey to London in the hope of finding the daughter he never met.
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Very Good But Not The Best On Audible--
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The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe
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Michael Maloney reads Daniel Defoe's timeless tale of a man who has to use all his own skills to survive alone on an island. Robinson Crusoe has a great desire to see the world and, against his father's wishes, goes to sea. After surviving a terrible shipwreck, however, Robinson Crusoe discovers he is the only person on a deserted island, far from any shipping routes or rescue.
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NOT whole book
- By Amazon Customer on 11-18-20
By: Daniel Defoe
What listeners say about Hard Times
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- jimhasnoopinion
- 06-01-24
Terrific narrator
I read along and it was far more alive with the narrator. Another Dickens triumph
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- Chris Corsini
- 08-12-24
Not bad, but not his best work
You can read the background on why Dickens wrote this book and why it's different then the rest of his canon online. The bottom line is that this is a good book but nowhere near Dicken's best. I'm working my way through this free audible Dickens series and this one was the least engaging, though there are a few classic characters and Dickensian set pieces that will get you through and keep you amused. If you're like me and trying to get through Dickens' whole catalogue, this isn't a bad stop, but for anyone else, the rest have all been better for me so far.
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- Rivkah
- 08-07-18
Social change, serialized
Charles Dickens is very large-hearted in any of his social commentary and though I don’t always fall in love with any of the characters or find the story less-than-concise, I love how much he loves people and wants them to be well. Often, the picture of everyday life is one of resilience and if it is of weakness, I can’t remember a place where Dickens doesn’t write with a foundation of compassion.
Bertie Carvel is an excellent reader, always, and I like knowing all the work he does to promote equality and justice in his own sphere is a thread alongside Dickens. More audiobooks by Carvel, please (and I genuinely mean that bc I own all the other ones he’s done).
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1 person found this helpful
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- Deirdre Marshall
- 05-19-23
Fantastic performance!
The narrator captured the voices brilliantly, and the delivery was laugh out loud funny in places. A great listen!
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- Amazon Customer
- 12-15-22
Sad but true
The story is a reality in many lives even today. Don’t listen if you are easily depressed for this is truly a tale of people experiencing hard times.
The narration is very good and easily understood when different characters speak. A talent that should be admired. I visualize a dark and gloomy community. I recommend this book to everyone so that we remember there is a society of this nature.
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- FranceyO
- 05-03-23
Powerful performance!
Bertie Carvel is masterful in his command of the voices & accents of each character/cast member. He deftly captures the whole emotional range—from caricaturish absurdity to gravitas—of the novel. I hope he performs other Dickens masterpieces ! 💙💜💛
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- Brian
- 06-01-23
Perfect narrator for Dickens
While Dickens’ moralizing summarizing of events can be tedious at times, his characters
and humor shine with Bertie Carvel’s narration.
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- Anonymous User
- 06-27-24
Bertie Rendered Masterful Performance! Dickens Descriptions a Blast!
Bertie was able to navigate smoothly through the different accents/dialects he brilliantly used to bring the characters alive. He made Dickens’ long complex sentences a breeze. Masterful performance.
Charles Dickens is a genius writer. His descriptions and adverbs/adjectives are amusing and serious at the same time. He had a profound understanding of the nature of human beings and their behaviors.
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- Lady Holmes
- 06-13-23
One of Dickens’s best!
Hard Times isn’t as well known to many readers as his more popular novels, yet it has its own brilliance! It’s shorter so the reader doesn’t see as complex of plots and as many characters as his longer novels. Yet, this story has memorable characters and a theme that brings about an unforgettable message that is timeless.
I enjoyed this audio version of one of my favorite Dickens. A great reread!!
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- DFK
- 07-08-19
Excellent book and excellent performance
This is an excellent one of Dickens' works. I have reviewed some here that unless you are a committed Dickens fan, you could pass on, but this is one that is worthy of Dickens' reputation. Paxman's introduction was useful in making me aware of the critique of Utilitarianism in this work, but even if you didn't know that, you would be able to relate to the types of characters depicted. There is excellent social commentary in the voice of Sissy, still so relevant today. Here is one quote from a discussion about what she was having trouble learning in school: “And he said, This schoolroom is an immense town, and in it there are a million of inhabitants, and only five-and-twenty are starved to death in the streets, in the course of a year. What is your remark on that proportion? And my remark was—for I couldn’t think of a better one—that I thought it must be just as hard upon those who were starved, whether the others were a million, or a million million.” Of course, that was the wrong answer for the teacher. There is more like that, and I think there are such quotes that are “pearls”. I was disappointed with the ending. Given that Gradgrind Jr. basically framed someone for a theft he committed (this is not a spoiler - it becomes pretty obvious; this is not a mystery story), I think that though we can have sympathy for a father who wants to protect his son from the law (which certainly was harsh then), being an accomplice in any way to the escape of someone who should stand trial is not justifiable. It is not even the theft that was so bad, but the framing of another person, who suffered as a result, that was worse. As far as the performance, it was superb. I will definitely look out for other books narrated by Bertie Carvel.
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2 people found this helpful