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The Old Curiosity Shop

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The Old Curiosity Shop

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: George Hagan
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About this listen

 The Old Curiosity Shop is a novel by Charles Dickens.

The plot follows the life of Nell Trent and her grandfather, both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London.

Charles Dickens is arguably the greatest novelist England ever produced. His innate comic genius and shrewd depictions of Victorian life - along with his memorable characters - have made him beloved by readers the world over.

Please note: This is a vintage recording. The audio quality may not be up to modern day standards.

Public Domain (P)2009 RNIB Classics England

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All stars
Most relevant  
The characters in this book evoke quite a range of emotions in the listener and, while it can go at a sedate pace in places, it keeps the reader wanting to find out more about the journeys of its main characters. I recommend it.

Thoroughly entertaining listen

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Probably one of Dickens' more sentimental novels, it is nevertheless an enjoyable read / listen. It is read expressively by George Hagen, who brings the characters alive with a distinctive voice for each. In some ways the tale reflects contemporary issues - the grandfather with an addiction to gambling; lawyers with a disrespect for the law; the melancholy child reared in unwholesome circumstances; the perils of self seeking; the nature of honour and the nature of deceit.

Contemporary Issues

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'One would have to have a heart of stone to read the death of little Nell without dissolving into tears...of laughter.'

(Oscar Wilde)

If this was Wilde's rather unkind view of the novel's main character, then what hope have we, at the beginning of the 21st Century of taking Dickens' novel seriously.

There are however many things to recommend the novel, above all the author's generous sympathy to mankind which suffuses the whole tale with a warm glow. There is the portrayal of the demonic Daniel Quilp, deliciously unprincipled and there is the sense of being transported to another world. Totally alien, this is a time and place where death was expected, prepared for and frequently talked about. What is baffling to a modern reader is why any of Dickens' contemporary readers can have been in any doubt about his heroine's fate would be. She frequents graveyards, talks to sextons and reflects upon an early death so often that the author must have be exasperated that anyone should doubt the turn his plot would take.

Though not the easiest or most appealing of his works for the modern reader, there is plenty here to interest the Dickens devotee and as usual the reliable George Hagan brings the characters to life unerringly.

Characters Brought to Life

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wonderful story told by a great narrator. his voices were brilliant and Quilp was made to sound as evil as he was. enjoyed very much

excellent narration even for an old performance

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loved the story it was really beautiful, nice, cosy overall a great book to read

beautiful

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Narrator was great, Dickens characters terrific, howver I think story was just a bit too long!

Curiosity

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I got this just simply because of the author without really checking it out or looking at the reviews. Have to say that I got a bit bored on a number of occasions and was glad when it finished.

The story rambles on and jumps around a bit, with lots of, time devoted to the hardships of life, which serve to make it a bit of a depressing read.

Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this book and I certainly won’t be listening to it again.

Rambling and glad when it ended

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Husband really enjoyed this. He is a Dickens fan I'm not but I may listen to this as he really enjoyed it. He preferred this version over the Anton Lesser version.

The Old Curiosity Shop

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Beautiful rendition of this wonderful classic
Laughed out loud & cried much, transported to the magical world of CD

Fabulous from first to last

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This tale was brilliantly read, carrying the reader through the low life of London and some of the gentlest parts of the 19th century countryside where the poor share their meagre fair with those poor than themselves.
The famous death of Little Nell is memorably portrayed, and at least the final chapter recounts some justice.
N.B.
It would be very helpful to the reader if the numbering of the 70 chapters could be kept up to date so that the reader can either keep his place or return to one that he wants to hear again

A classic Dickens tale with characters of all shades of good and evil

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