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Oliver Twist
- The Audible Dickens Collection
- Narrated by: Jonathan Pryce
- Length: 18 hrs and 16 mins
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Oliver Twist
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Summary
This Audible Exclusive production revisits one of Dickens' most popular novels: Oliver Twist, narrated by internationally acclaimed, award-winning actor Jonathan Pryce.
Part of the Dickens Collection, an exclusive series of unmissable performances, Oliver Twist is a gleaming example of the genius and foresight of Charles Dickens.
When young orphan, Oliver Twist, is sold into an apprenticeship with an undertaker, he leaves behind years of miserable servitude and mistreatment at an English workhouse. Hoping to move on to better things, he decides to escape his new, equally dreary surroundings and head to London.
It is there that the novel unravels as Oliver meets a host of larger-than-life characters, including The Artful Dodger, a high-ranking member of a juvenile pickpocketing gang, and their elderly leader, Fagin.
Desperate for affection and the sense of belonging that he has never known, Oliver unwittingly throws himself into a life of petty theft, which soon takes a violent turn with the introduction of one of Dickens' most terrifying characters, Bill Sikes.
Exposing the cruel and inhumane treatment of orphans in 19th-century England, Dickens created one of the most significant social novels of all time. With it, he condemned the establishment for neglecting homeless children and leaving them vulnerable to recruiters who would exploit and abuse them. Oliver Twist cemented Dickens’ reputation as one of the most talented, influential and revolutionary of English authors.
Following his father’s incarceration, 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, various articles, novellas and short stories. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became the ultimate self-made man.
Jonathan Pryce is an award-winning actor of the stage and screen. He is best known for Brazil, Glengarry Glen Ross, Evita, Tomorrow Never Dies, and the Pirates of the Caribbean series as well as his widely recognised performances as High Sparrow in HBO’s Game of Thrones and Cardinal Wolsey in BBC’s Wolf Hall.
Jonathan most recently starred opposite Glenn Close in the critically acclaimed film The Wife, directed by Björn Runge. He can soon be seen as Don Quixote in Terry Gilliam’s The Man Who Killed Don Quixote and in the upcoming Netflix feature film The Pope, directed by Fernando Meirelles, in which he stars as Pope Francis opposite Anthony Hopkins.
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What listeners say about Oliver Twist
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Keith Phillips
- 27-04-19
A brilliant rendition of an absorbing book.
As with most of Dickens, his novels are full of characters. Jonathan Pryce bring the to life superbly even the most minor ones. I congratulate him.
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Annelies Schouppe
- 31-01-23
Great TWISTS in this story of Dickens.
I love this book. Third time I finished it but the first time while knowing London so well. So I could easily understand whereabouts in London the figures moved.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-06-24
Great narrator
really enjoyed this classic book by Charles dickens. excellent listen and very enjoyable. glad I listened to this and not just base this story on the film
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 07-06-20
If you’ve seen the musical, you know nothing
Bleak, telling, romantic and if it were not for Eliza Davis, outright racist, this is a story worth knowing.
A vivid depiction of its era and values, with characters and themes which are both timeless and oft referenced.
It meanders in the second half of the second act, perhaps a victim of Dickens’ penchant for serialisation. Did he forget his propagandist? Still all come good in the end. And Fagin, despite the visceral hatred of both audience and author; concludes as perhaps the most interesting and relatable of Dickens’ characters.
Jonathan Pryce’s performance is beyond excellent; it perseveres, engaging one as if you were present in the room.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Stravaigin
- 24-03-21
a brilliant performance of the classic
Jonathan Pryce gives a thrilling reading. You might enjoy the darkness of London's criminal underbelly or the comical hypocrisy of Mr Bumble the beadle. It's all here.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anna Iskenderova
- 22-01-21
Excellent!
Excellent performance and a pleasure to listen to this classic by Charles Dickens. Interesting plot with unexpected turns.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Strawberry
- 24-07-22
A Very Moving, Touching And Heartwarming Story
A very moving, touching and heartwarming story. I never knew the full story of Oliver Twist, my remembrance of the musical and TV films, was the workhouse, the Artful Doger, pick pocketing and Fagin. But in listening to this book, there was so much more and a wonderful story unfolded. Yes there was heartbreak in the way Oliver began his life, and dispite his unfortunate start, he had a beautiful heart. And there are so many heartwarming parts to this book. Charles Dicken's in my opinion was probably the best author of all times. And I wonder if he ever knew that. I love the way he wrrote from his own experiences and his own heart and perception. The narrator Jonathan Pryce was wonderful, a lovely rich, thoughtful, expressive voice, just the right pace of reading for me. And his voice for Fagin, made me smile everytime I heard this! Totally enjoyed! Thank you to Charles Dickens and Jonathan Pryce!
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Mrs J A Hooton
- 18-06-23
Excellent
I really enjoyed this. It had twists and turns I did not know about. The reading and characterisations were excellent.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- simon
- 02-02-24
a classic. Worth a listen.
having seen a few adaptions a long time ago I thought I'd give this a go. not disappointed, I believe there is a fair amount in this which is cut out of the films etc, although parts are a little dull the story is still an interesting one.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- B. A. Cass
- 03-04-21
Great story - times were hard back then!
A masterful story, describing just how tough life was for lower class Britons in the time of the British Empire, when Britain was the richest economy in the world. It covers all kinds of abuse and repression, and is very well told and presented.
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