Dombey and Son

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: John Richmond

Dombey and Son is a novel with the full title Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son: Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation by Charles Dickens.

First published in monthly parts between October 1846 and April 1848, it tells the story of Paul Dombey a heartless London merchant who runs his domestic affairs as he runs his business. In his daily life there is no room for dealing with emotions because emotion has no market value. In his son he sees the future of his firm and the continuation of his name, while he neglects his affectionate daughter, until he decides to get rid of her beloved, a lowly clerk. But Dombey's weakness is his pride, and he falls prey to the treacherous flattery of others.

Combining an intricate plot, vivid language, and Dickens's customary social commentary, this is another classic from the master novelist.

Charles Dickens (1812 - 9 June 1870) is arguably the greatest novelist England ever produced.

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

Public Domain (P)2009 RNIB

good story, poor recording

This is another entertaining story in the typical Dickens style. The characters are well developed and the descriptions of events very detailed. The narrator, John Richmond, does a nice job of creating enjoyable character voices that keep one following the story smoothly. However, the quality of the recording is not very good. There are many instances of pausing, a background cough or two and several occasions of audible page turning. Personally, I didn't mind them however, it did prevent me from giving it five stars.

Not really "unadbridged"

Beautiful reading, but for some reason he skips paragraphs and sentences here and there. I'm only in chapter three, but there he skipped an entire page. This title is labeled "unabridged" and at 41 hours you'd think it would be, but it's not. Just thought you'd like to know.

one of the best

One of the best of Dickens, I think. This one and N. Nic. can make to wail and cry, here more for sorrow and there, more for story. (I don't like L. Dorritt, so you can assume this one is not like that one--Dorritt was a doormat. I can believe these characters better than those.)

WHAT THE DICKENS

Tolstoy said that Dickens’ literature was a source of motivation for him to sit down and write. Dickens’ wrote many works picturing life during the industrial revolution that motivated more than writers to write. Dickens became a source of information for societal reform. Dickens describes many of the negative consequences of the industrial revolution; particularly, child labor abuse and deterioration of family values.

“Dombey and Son” is a lesser known work of Dickens that pleases the senses and gladdens the heart. For anyone who has children, “Dombey and Son” teaches parenthood and touches on parental’ errors of commission and omission.

Dickens’ stories are over simplifications and exaggerations of parental psychological abuse but the fracture of family values caused by industrialization is fairly depicted in his writing and well documented by sociologists and historians.

More importantly, “Dombey and Son” is a delightful and entertaining story.

good performance flawed production

production wasn't great but the performer was really good. the book was done for a charity. the did a good job even though there are significant flaws in the production (can hear pages turn, water drank, coughs)