検索キーワード： 著者 "Charles Dickens" すべてのカテゴリー

Nikolas Nickleby, die Hauptfigur dieses um die Mitte des 19. Jahrhunderts spielenden sozialkritischen Romans, bleibt nach dem Tod seines Vaters mit seiner Mutter und Schwester verarmt zurück. Sie wenden sich in ihrer Not an den Bruder des Verstorbenen, Ralph Nickleby, der sich aber als tyrannischer, herzloser und egoistischer Onkel entpuppt. Er schickt Nikolas als Hilfslehrer in die Provinz, um ihn aus dem Weg zu haben, und Kate, Nikolas' Schwester, versucht er mit einem widerlichen Geschäftsfreund zu verkuppeln. Doch Nikolas nimmt den Kampf auf und führt ihn auch zu einem guten Ende.

Charles Dickens gilt als Begründer des sozialen Romans. Seine schöpferische Phantasie und der verständnisvolle Humor eines Moralisten haben eine Fülle unvergesslicher und eigenartiger Gestalten aus den unteren und mittleren Londoner Bevölkerungsschichten gezeichnet. Seine Bücher, in denen er allgemeine Missstände nicht anprangert, sondern durch realistische und glaubwürdige Schilderung offenkundig macht, gaben den Anstoß zu wirksamen sozialen Reformen.

Am Ende des ersten Bandes von Dickens' "Klein Dorrit" erbt der alte Dorrit, der fast sein ganzes Leben im Schuldgefängnis verbracht hat, gänzlich unvermutet ein beträchtliches Vermögen. Er schwimmt plötzlich in Geld (das Klein Dorrits Geschwister mit vollen Händen ausgeben). Ein wahrer Geldsegen, so scheint es. Aber wird wirklich Segen auf diesem Geld liegen?

Dickens wrote a number of short ghost stories or included sections in novels about ghosts. Here are three ghostly tales including "The Queer Client", "The Signalman" and "The Trial for Murder".

>"The Queer Client" is a desolate story about death and revenge. The tragedy of the story is that every character in the story dies or loses - or both. "The Queer Client" is a remarkable and powerful work about the grim realities of debtor's prison and the fertile ground for despair and revenge found therein. Read by an American voice, by listener request.

A Dickens Christmas story about charity, hope, and forgiveness, with a touch of remembrance and loss. This very mature story looks back throughout one's life, promises made, aspirations filled and unfilled, love gained and lost, and many other such touching moments in everyone's life. An American voice was used per listener request.

"The Lamplighter" is ironic and iconic Dickens. A story within a story about dreams of wealth, with Dickensian wit throughout. A treat for Dickens fans who have not heard this lovely story before. (American accent narration.)

A very short Dickens story relating our journey through life in 5 stages: being merry when very young, playing while a child, in love as a young adult, being busy in middle age with a family, and remembering in old age. Though sad throughout, Dickens has a flash of uplift at the end. A classic story for the Christmas season when one tends to do summing up during the holiday and the almost-new year. Another Dickens must-listen. Read by an American voice by listener request.

Filled with an array of comic characters, The Chimes tells the story of Toby Veck, a humble porter whose loses his faith in human nature at the hands of his presumed social superiors but regains it thanks to the spirits of the bells. Like its predecessor, it carries a heartfelt plea for charity and brotherhood and examines such distressing themes as suicide and infanticide as well as the question of whether the poor have any right to live at all.

"The Signal Man" is a magnificent, tightly focused ghost story. Dickens' charm pervades this mysterious and ominous tale. Various grim events occur but feel somewhat calm - not bloody or appalling, but enthralling and other worldly. Dickens invests the signal-man with education beyond his station. This adds to the credibility of the story as well as impressing the narrator. A must-listen for Dickens fans. An American voice at the request of our listeners.

Sixteen thrilling and chilling stories by some of the greatest writers of horror and the supernatural, including Bram Stoker, H.P. Lovecraft, Charles Dickens, Ambrose Bierce, R.L.Stevenson, Guy de Maupassant and John Polidori, who is held to be the creator of the first vampire tale. An audio treat for Halloween or any other night when the moon is high, these stories are rich in imagination, humor, and characterization.

This story wonderfully combines a murder trial and apparitions - or more plainly, ghosts. It describes a moment in the life of a bored bank official who has an alarming experience. A great story, smoothly presented by the pen of Dickens. (American accent narration.)

Another wonderful Dickens short story combining spectral images with Christmas. Wonderful turns of phrase and digressions throughout. To name but one, “faithful obstructions”, for servants - in other words, easier to do it yourself if not for pride of position. Playful, fun, and illuminating. One of his less listened-to stories; well worth it for anyone, but especially for fans.

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done...." With these words and a superb act of bravery and sacrifice, one of the most badly behaved heroes of all time ends Charles Dickens' great tale of the French Revolution. This is a firework display of a book, a crackling picture of the ravages and excesses of starving, furious men and the astonishing acts of heroism that usually accompany them.

Charles Dickens' classic story written from the persepctive of middle age, looking back at what the Christmas tree had meant to him as a boy. The tale has a moderately Christian undertone that will be warm for most moderately religious people. A unique story about looking backward at Christmastime and a worthy companion to A Christmas Carol.

A hilarious Dickens story, with his masterly story-within-a-story format, about a sideshow and the various characters who inhabit it - especially a dwarf who seeks to gain property and go into society. He gets the money by winning a lottery and does enter into society, with hilarious and sad results. A rollicking good time, "Going into Society" is reminiscent of O'Henry and Mark Twain, too. One of Dickens' best humorous stories. Read by an American voice, per listener request.

"The Holly Tree" is a warm Christmas story by Charles Dickens and a listening treat for adults during the holiday season or almost any time of year. Full of wonderful Dickensian words, phrases, and irony. The story contains a strain of great truth, and love for Americans, who Dickens depicts over-friendly but warm, kindly, generous, and warm hearted.

There is the warmest of Christmas fires in this hearth. It was reportedly written in a matter of weeks to catch the Christmas deadline. Unlike his other seasonal stories, this is not a supernatural tale but one of the perfect domestic scene with which Dickens was so obsessed throughout his writing. It is all here: the warmth of home, the loving little woman, the children, the food and the laughter. All the things that go to make an idealised Christmas are rolled into one very warming story.

A story that has a version of Uriah Heap, a story within a story, touching on the themes of death and deliverance, anger and revenge. This is a classic short story well worth introducing to young listeners to before they embark on the longer voyage of Dickens' novels. Dickens employs wonderful character names here, such as Mr. Heap and here Mr. Slinkton. Cathartic and uplifting. (American accent narration.)

Charles Dickens beloved Christmas story is here narrated by Bill DeWees, with his special inflection to make the story English but easily understood by Americans. This is particularly nice to hear in relistenings during the holiday season - and year round.