The Pickwick Papers

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: David Timson

Length: 32 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The Pickwick Papers, Dickens's first novel, is a delightful romp through the pre-Reform Bill England of 1827. Samuel Pickwick and the rest of the Pickwickians are some of the most memorable of all Dickens's creations, and it is a joy to hear of their adventures in search of "interesting scenes and characters", and the repeated efforts of the quick-witted Sam Weller to rescue them all from disaster.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

Public Domain (P)2012 Naxos AudioBooks

No Better Way to Spend Your Time!

If you could sum up The Pickwick Papers in three words, what would they be?

Lovable, endearing, joyous.

What did you like best about this story?

Dickens' marvelous stream of inventive genius.

What about David Timson’s performance did you like?

I have listened to another audible version of Pickwick Papers--in addition to reading it when I was young. But David Timson's performance is simply incomparable. I am thankful to have it, and look forward to listening to it again.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes--but it would require me to go without sleep for several days.

Any additional comments?

I don't normally write reviews, but I was so shocked by the first review to be posted that I felt I had to respond. To condemn Charles Dickens on the charges of racism and sexism displays a sad failure to understand the purpose of great literature, which is to open our minds to the full richness of life, and certainly not to re-enforce our current notions of political correctness. Few books display the richness of life more radiantly than The Pickwick Papers and I urge anyone who wants to enjoy a romp through early nineteenth England to download David Timson's enthralling version of Dickens first masterpiece. It is cheaper than a trip to England, and a lot more fun.

Bueno con un inicio confuso

Muy buen libro, aunque se sale mucho del relato contando historias breves que no tienen que ver con el tema del libro y en particular al principio que parece no ir a ninguna parte, aunque el ingenio y la forma en que retrata la Inglaterra victoriana es muy interesante y divertida

Dickens... Of course it's good!

Wonderfully performed, and a heartwarming story. Dickens is my favorite of the classic authors, and this, his first novel, is a great beginning.

Favourite Dickens

If you could sum up The Pickwick Papers in three words, what would they be?

Funny, thoughtful, timeless.

What did you like best about this story?

The wonderfully realized Dickensian characters.

What does David Timson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He depicted each character distinctly.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I loved it for its sympathetic view of human foibles. I have listened twice and will listen again in the future.

Any additional comments?

This is a feel good book for when you want something that is intelligent and well written, but not dark and sad.

Narrator David Timson is exquisite.

If you could sum up The Pickwick Papers in three words, what would they be?

Wonderful novel narration.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Pickwick Papers?

The election of Etonswarn in Chapter 12.

What does David Timson bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He uses a different voice for all characters, and never slips up.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It's realism, but mostly a comedy.

Well worth the listen

A wonderful narration of a comedic masterpeice. Dickens's ability to recognize, satirize, and lionize human types is unsurpassed. Rollicking adventures and good, clean fun.

A delight

One of my favorite books, by one of my favorite authors, read by one of my favorite narrators. Mr Pickwick and Sam Weller are the Don Quixote and Sancho Panza of 19th century English literature. A delight from start to finish.

Great narrator, Dickens ebbs and flows

What did you love best about The Pickwick Papers?

Dickens develops his characters wonderfully and he uses language to evoke humor and illuminate the human condition.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I like the serial format, but I prefer Dickens's other novels for reading straight through.

What about David Timson’s performance did you like?

Master of impressions. Consistent voices throughout for each character. A one-man dramatic performance.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed but not uproariously. Amusing.

Any additional comments?

I would definitely listen to David Timson again, and I wish I could hear him do more Dickens.

The Excellance of Dickens

after reading Dickins biography, I've could imagine him writing Pickwick Papers. it is pure genius and quite enjoyable

Runaways, Drunkenness, Bad Hunting & Tales, Oh My!

This is the sixth Dickens book I've encountered (fourth I've listened to on Audible) and I must say, it's grown on me in terms of what you get out of it. In some of Dickens' works (Bleak House, David Copperfield, Tale of Two Cities), it can take a while to get into the dramatic or less descriptive bits because he has to set the mood and introduce you to a wide and not always relevant set of characters you'll meet. But that's definitely not the case here!

In the first fifteen chapters alone, you get a mock battle demonstration, several drunken parties, almost a duel, a failed elopement and much more. That's saying something that Dickens can cram all this into a novel (not even counting the trial and other scenes of the later half of the book) while also showing varied and funny examples of human nature. These examples of human nature also appear in the form of stories-within-the-story told throughout the novel by other characters, which can sometimes be entertaining. I sometimes wonder if Dickens wasn't trying to test out possible storylines since this was his first novel (he mentions the Marshalsea in one, which is crucial in Little Dorritt's plot) or just trying to squeeze out more money via the wordcount with these since he was paid by the number of words per serial.

Regarding the members of the club, I will say the following: 1) Mr. Pickwick must never drink if possible, 2) Mr. Winkle lies about his capabilities at anything, 3) Mr. Tupman is a drama queen and 4) probably Mr. Snodgrass is the least likely to cause drama of the bunch. And for sure, Sam Weller is the most competent. You have to remember sometimes that this is satire, because other times you can wonder how a group of four grown men can be so incompetent at nearly anything but causing fuss and mayhem! Or maybe everyone's just good at misunderstanding things, Mrs. Bardell being the biggest one? I probably like Sam Weller best of the characters, for his competence and ability to provide an anecdote in any given situation. Mr. Wardle is fun, being the most competent non-servant in the book.

My favorite scene in the book so far is when Mr. Pickwick attempts to save a young lady he thinks is going to elope with Alfred Jingle (who pops up on and off), only to end up in a confusion because the "boarding school" is a brothel. I will say that it's not easy to know some of the terms or jokes in this novel without having an annotated copy or one with notes in the back. After all, who thinks a lady abbess is a brothel madam today? Though, I will admit that the scene where Mr. Pickwick accidentally enters the wrong room in Ipswich at an inn is my second-favorite, since again it shows how incompetent he is at pretty much anything.

David Timson's reading has been fun so far. He's good at doing a variety of voices, whether it's Sam's Cockney anecdotes, Warlde's "Joe? Damn that boy!", or any of the various ladies. Juliet Stevenson and Simon Vance are two of my favorite readers for Dickens works, but I will say that David Timson is becoming the third.

I would recommend this Dickens book if you're looking for a more light-hearted and funny story. His more serious works like David Copperfield or Bleak House can be hard to swallow because of complicated and/or not plausible storylines (I'm looking at you, combustion scene in Bleak House) or character tropes (the dutiful daughter who cares for her father being the most common) but with The Pickwick Papers, it's just riotous satire all the way. Join in on the fun and unlike Mr. Pickwick, go easy on the milk punch!