Oliver Twist

Starred review from July 26, 2010
The inimitable Martin Jarvis brings his talents to bear on Charles Dickens's classic in an audiobook that will delight listeners with its superb recreations of gritty 19th-century London. To escape Mr. Bumble and life in the workhouse, Oliver flees to London where he meets the Artful Dodger and becomes embroiled with Fagin's ragtag band of thieves. Jarvis simply dazzles: his performance captures both the humor and sorrow of the text, his narration is crisp, and his characterizations—his rendition of the terrifying district magistrate, Mr. Fang, is particularly memorable—are as varied as they are energetic, befitting, and enjoyable.

Nowhere is Dickens' anger at Victorian "political economy" more evident than in this stinging rebuke, and reader Martin Jarvis mitigates none of the sting. It's evident in the unctuous voice of Fagan, the brutal voice of Bill Sykes, the pomposity of Mr. Bumble, the pleading of Nancy, but above all, in the innocent hope of Oliver himself. With his precise but subtle reading of the author's irony, even when it occasionally lapses into sermons, Jarvis conveys to the reader all of Dickens' stinging anger at Victorian hypocrisy. He brings all of this nasty world to life but does it in such a graceful and relaxed way that Dickens' essential hope in the ultimate goodness of man and faith in the Victorian order are preserved intact. P.E.F. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine


This retelling presents a condensed version of Dickens's work for young listeners. Smoothly written, it has been considerably shortened from the original. It recounts the main events but lacks Dickens's signature word craft. Jonathan Keeble is an authoritative guide through Oliver's orphan narrative. Keeble's commanding voice presents a series of interrelated vignettes, each separated by period music. His characters each have memorable voices, especially Fagin, who is a bombastic villain fully brought to life. With such voices, Keeble offers a performance, more than a narration. His changing tone and pace draw attention to dramatic events; however, some principals, notably Oliver, sound a bit caricatured. An informational booklet on Dickens accompanies the production. Keeble's vivid reading makes Oliver's story accessible for young listeners. C.A. (c) AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine