David Copperfield

To put it bluntly, but oh so happily, audiobooks don't come any better than this. BBC Radio's production of Dickens's classic is a sumptuous feast for the ears and soul. Overall, it is true to the author's words while adding a few modern touches, which accentuate its timelessness. This is a full-cast recording, not the work of a single narrator, so we get the pleasure of hearing actors inhabiting full characterizations. The cast performs marvelously with a full range of emotions and perfect diction. Some of the action is downright maudlin, but it's true to the period. And when Uriah Heep gets his . . . well, try to suppress the urge to cheer out loud. Bravo! R.I.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine