Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit (version 2)


Read by Peter John Keeble

(4.5 stars; 85 reviews)

Martin Chuzzlewit was Dickens 6th novel, serially published in 1843 - 44. Irrespective of the fact that Dickens considered - "Chuzzlewit is in 100 points immeasurably the best of my stories"- it failed to resonate with, or capture the public's imagination as many of its predecessors had done. However by the1850s its popularity had risen and it eventually found recognition as the great novel that it is.
The beginning is somewhat protracted but the prose is magnificent throughout. The theme of the story is about selfishness and obstinacy. The callow eponymous hero Martin Chuzzlewit is estranged from his grandfather (Martin Chuzzlewit the elder) for having the temerity to fall in love with his grandfather's ward — Mary Graham. The Chuzzlewit family are all placed under the microscope as Martin journeys on a voyage of what can only be termed as "self-discovery". His journeying takes him to America, where his experiences change him forever and he returns a far better man.
Woven around the theme of the book are some of Dickens most finely drawn characters, ranging from the comic: Seth Pecksniff, an oily unctuous hypocrite, Mrs Gamp a nurse with a propensity for strong liquor and a delightful way of mangling the English language: to the macabre Jonas Chuzzlewit a dark brooding murderer. There are plots within plots, deception and artifice abound, confidence tricksters on both sides of the Atlantic, and a vicious murder.
This is a satirical novel, particularly when Martin is in America and Dickens, who never shirked from social criticism, utilized that portion of the book to express his feelings on his experiences during his visit to America in1842. It is a comical novel, humour being prevalent throughout, witness Mrs Gamp "Rich folk may ride on camels, but it ain't so easy for em to see out of the needles eye". The irrepressible and precocious young Bailey strutting and posing in his Footman's livery. The deeply melancholic Augustus Moddle, desperate to be run over but finding no takers! and doomed to marry the wrong sister. (31 hr 31 min)

Chapters

PREFACE 5:32 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 1-INTRODUCTORY, CONCERNING THE PEDIGREE OF THE CHUZZLEWIT FAMIILY 15:38 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 2-WHEREIN CERTAIN PERSONS ARE PRESENTED TO THE READER, WITH WHOM HE MAY… 39:39 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 3-IN WHICH CERTAIN OTHER PERSONS ARE INTRODUCED; ON THE SAME TERMS AS I… 42:10 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 4-FROM WHICH IT WILL APPEAR THAT IF UNION BE STRENGTH, AND FAMILY AFFEC… 46:55 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 5-CONTAINING A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE INSTALLATION OF MR PECKSNIFF'S NEW P… 50:54 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 6-COMPRISES, AMONG OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS, PECKSNIFFIAN AND ARCHITECTU… 35:20 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 7-IN WHICH MR CHEVY SLYME ASSERTS THE INDEPENDENCE OF HIS SPIRIT, AND T… 36:39 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 8-ACCOMPANIES MR PECKSNIFF AND HIS CHARMING DAUGHTERS TO THE CITY OF LO… 26:07 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 9-TOWN AND TODGER'S 1:06:21 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 10-CONTAINING STRANGE MATTER, ON WHICH MANY EVENTS IN THIS HISTORY MAY,… 37:24 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 11-WHEREIN A CERTAIN GENTLEMAN BECOMES PARTICULAR IN HIS ATTENTIONS TO … 48:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 12-WILL BE SEEN IN THE LONG RUN, IF NOT IN THE SHORT ONE, TO CONCERN MR… 46:31 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 13-SHOWING WHAT BECAME OF MARTIN AND HIS DESPARATE RESOLVE, AFTER HE LE… 49:08 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 14-IN WHICH MARTIN BIDS ADIEU TO THE LADY OF HIS LOVE; AND HONOURS AN O… 25:42 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 15-THE BURDEN WHEREOF, IS HAIL COLUMBIA! 22:45 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 16-MARTIN DISEMBARKS FROM THAT NOBLE AND FAST-SAILING LINE-OF-PACKET SH… 48:51 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 17-MARTIN ENLARGES HIS CIRCLE OF AQUAINTANCE; INCREASES HIS STOCK OF WI… 42:44 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 18-DOES BUSINESS WITH THE HOUSE OF ANTHONY CHUZZLEWIT AND SON, FROM WHI… 25:51 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 19-THE READER IS BROUGHT INTO COMMUNICATION WITH SOME PROFESSIONAL PERS… 36:50 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 20-IS A CHAPTER OF LOVE 32:56 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 21-MORE AMERICAN EXPERIENCES, MARTIN TAKES A PARTNER, AND MAKES A PURCH… 49:49 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 22-FROM WHICH IT WILL BE SEEN THAT MARTIN BECAME A LION OF HIS OWN ACCO… 23:58 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 23-MARTIN AND HIS PARTNER TAKE POSSESSION OF THEIR ESTATE. THE JOYFUL O… 23:23 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 24-REPORTS PROGRESS IN CERTAIN HOMELY MATTERS OF LOVE, HATRED, JEALOUSY… 38:29 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 25-IS IN PART PROFESSIONAL, AND FURNISHES THE READER WITH SOME VALUABLE… 37:43 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 26-AN UNEXPECTED MEETING, AND A PROMISING PROSPECT 19:38 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 27-SHOWING THAT OLD FRIENDS MAY NOT ONLY APPEAR WITH NEW FACES, BUT IN … 50:25 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 28-MR MONTAGUE AT HOME. AND MR JONAS CHUZZLEWIT AT HOME 23:36 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 29-IN WHICH SOME PEOPLE ARE PRECOCIOUS, OTHERS PROFESSIONAL, AND OTHERS… 21:35 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 30 PROVES THAT CHANGES MAY BE RUNG IN THE BEST-REGULATED FAMILIES, AND … 39:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 31- MR PINCH IS DISCHARGED OF A DUTY WHICH HE NEVER OWED TO ANYBODY, AN… 44:10 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 32- TREATS OF TODGER'S AGAIN; AND OF ANOTHER BLIGHTED PLANT BESIDES THE… 15:18 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 33- FURTHER PROCEEDINGS IN EDEN, AND A PROCEEDING OUT OF IT. MARTIN MAK… 39:43 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 34- IN WHICH THE TRAVELLERS MOVE HOMEWARD, AND ENCOUNTER SOME DISTINGUI… 36:54 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 35- ARRIVING IN ENGLAND, MARTIN WITNESSES A CEREMONY, FROM WHICH HE DER… 16:48 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 36- TOM PINCH DEPARTS TO SEEK HIS FORTUNE. WHAT HE FINDS AT STARTING 48:20 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 37- TOM PINCH, GOING ASTRAY, FINDS THAT HE IS NOT THE ONLY PERSON IN TH… 22:34 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 38- SECRET SERVICE 21:07 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 39- CONTAINING SOME FURTHER PARTICULARS OF THE DOMESTIC ECONOMY OF THE … 40:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 40- THE PINCHES MAKE A NEW ACQUAINTANCE, AND HAVE FRESH OCCASION FOR SU… 34:43 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 41- MR JONAS AND HIS FRIEND, ARRIVING AT A PLEASANT UNDERSTANDING, SET … 21:06 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 42- CONTINUATION OF THE ENTERPRISE OF MR JONAS AND HIS FRIEND 23:34 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 43- HAS AN INFLUENCE ON THE FORTUNES OF SEVERAL PEOPLE. MR PECKSNIFF IS… 49:56 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 44- FURTHER CONTINUATION OF THE ENTERPRISE OF MR JONAS AND HIS FRIEND 22:09 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 45- IN WHICH TOM PINCH AND HIS SISTER TAKE A LITTLE PLEASURE; BUT QUITE… 22:04 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 46- IN WHICH MISS PECKSNIFF MAKES LOVE, MR JONAS MAKES WRATH, MRS GAMP … 51:08 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 47- CONCLUSION OF THE ENTERPRISE OF MR JONAS AND HIS FRIEND 23:07 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 48- BEARS TIDINGS OF MARTIN AND OF MARK, AS WELL AS OF A THIRD PERSON N… 39:42 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 49 - IN WHICH MRS HARRIS ASSISTED BY A TEAPOT, IS THE CAUSE OF A DIVISI… 32:22 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 50 - SURPRISES TOM PINCH VERY MUCH, AND SHOWS HOW CERTAIN CONFIDENCES P… 24:08 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 51 - SHEDS NEW AND BRIGHTER LIGHT UPON THE VERY DARK PLACE; AND CONTAI… 50:28 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 52 - IN WHICH THE TABLES ARE TURNED, COMPLETELY UPSIDE DOWN 45:03 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 53 - WHAT JOHN WESTLOCK SAID TO TOM PINCH'S SISTER; WHAT TOM PINCH'S … 23:18 Read by Peter John Keeble
CHAPTER 54 - GIVES THE AUTHOR GREAT CONCERN. FOR IT IS THE LAST IN THE BOOK 28:03 Read by Peter John Keeble
POSTSCRIPT 4:37 Read by Peter John Keeble

Reviews

Excellent story, well read.


(5 stars)

I enjoyed the story very much. I am visually impaired and rely upon readers for my books. I have greatly enjoyed listening to the Librivox collecyion of Dickens' books. This was one I had not heard of, and was pleasantly surprised to find all the hallmarks of a great Dickens novel. Villains most foul, trusty comrades and friends, family intrigues, and a protagonist who has much to learn are woven together with full character development. Whule Mil Nicholsen is my favorite reader of Dicken's, this reader was very good, and does a fine job bringing this book to life. i am sorry, as I often am, to see the story end!


(5 stars)

one of the best books I've listened to so far awesome and wonderful reader one of the best I've heard I will definitely be looking forward to listening to more of his readings and as far is the book itself Charles Dickens is the author not much more needs to be said as he is one of the world's best authors in my opinion just another captivating Story by him but I must say again Peter you made it all the more captivating

Delightful


(5 stars)

I can understand why Dickens was reluctant to leave these characters. What a delightful and complex bunch they are! I could have never gotten through the book without Mr. Keeble's wonderful narration, though. It is very dense and the language is often complicated. Some chapters tickled me so much that I repeated them a couple of times. This is a funny book and the narrator is perfect for the many voices.


(3 stars)

I found this more heavy-going, plot-wise, than other novels by Dickens. And while I like Mr Keeble's voice, the narration was at times rather on one tone, and there were a few surprising mispronunciations. However, as i would never have got through the novel by reading it myself, am grateful for the reading. PS, I did really enjoy the reading of Mark Tapley's character.

Well done.


(3.5 stars)

I liked the reader’s voice; it is well that he reads quickly, as it’s such a long book. There were a number of mistakes, but he spoke so quickly and confidently that they would be hard to notice unless one is following along in the text, as I was.


(5 stars)

One of my favorite audiobooks. Thank you Mr. Peter Keeble for giving such a gift to the public. I could have no experience of timeless classics, such as Dickens novels, without your aid. Thank you & may kindness lay in your path as a small recompense.

Volume problems


(2 stars)

I had to switch to the other version because this one was too hard to follow, even with my device volume all the way up.

Excellent reading


(5 stars)

Great reading of a great book. There were a couple of repeats of a paragraph here and there, no biggie.