Oliver Twist (Unabridged‪)‬

Even though this was only the second audio book I've ever listened to, it's easy to recognize the genius of Martin Jarvis. Despite having many characters to portray, he lends his voice to being unique and intriguing for all (his rendition of Fagin is hauntingly perfect). He truly does bring to life Dickens' characters. It's well worth the money to have the book treated with Jarvis' touch, and I am eagerly searching out more of his work. I read online that he did an unabridged version of David Copperfield, and I am hoping iTunes will add this to their collection. In the meantime, I'm going to snatch up Hard Times and A Tale of Two Cities.

First of all, I am an English Lit educator, and I of course over the years watched many Dickensian movies. And I believe I read Great Expectations years ago. I don’t know why but something said read Oliver Twist. I think because it has been alluded to a gagillion times in film and Tv, especially when alluding to poverty and wretchedness. So, feeling curious I read the unabridged version read by Martin Jarvis. His read was absolutely amazing. He took me through every nook and cranny of Dickens’ subtlety and obvious sarcasm, criticism, humor, romance and of course tragedy. Moreover, he read each voice with such distinction, I feel he should be given an academy award for his narrative virtuosity. I bought the hardcover so I could see Dickens’ lush language myself, but Jarvis delightfully pulled me away. I am now, I think, at least an emerging lover of Dickens—no movie or adaptation of Oliver Twist has done Dickens’ original treatment of characters or plot true justice.