| Click on Title or Image for details and user reviews. Follow such "New(7) Used(2) from £9.99" links right below the shopping cart to see a list of offers from various sellers (example). |
|
|
Dombey and Son (Penguin Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Charles Dickens
Creators: Kati Nicholl, Andrew Sachs
Publisher: Penguin Audiobooks
Category: Book
Buy Used: £67.88
Used (2) from £67.88
Avg. Customer Rating:  7 reviews
Sales Rank: 917604
Format: Audiobook
Media: Audio Cassette
Pages: 4
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 0140862706
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9780140862706
ASIN: 0140862706
Publication Date: January 30, 1997
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Ships from USA. Delivered in 10-12 business days. Money back guarantee!
|
| Also Available In:
|
| Similar Items:
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 2 more reviews...
Underappreciated October 30, 2008
Of the 14 novels Dickens completed in his lifetime, Dombey and Son is undoubtedly one of the least known; only Barnaby Rudge provides serious competition in this regard, it appears to me. It was popular with audiences of Dickens' own day, though. It was published in monthly instalments in 1846-1848, when Dickens popularity was very great, immediately following the success of the earlier Christmas books, including "A Christmas Carol".
Dombey and Son is more tightly plotted than its predecessors, for that reason it is often considered to mark the beginning of "late" Dickens, where thematic concerns became paramount. The Dombey of the title is a man of business, a very successful one, and the father of two children. One is a daughter, who is irrelevant to the business of Dombey and Son and thus irrelevant to Mr. Dombey, and the other is a son, Little Paul, who is expected to give material existence to the "Son" specified in the name of Mr. Dombey's business. However, Little Paul proves to be less of a chip off the old block than might have been hoped for, and baffles his father exceedingly when he asks him "What is money?" and follows his father's reply with "Yes, but what does it do?".
Further characters include the malevolent Mr. Carker, a consummate hypocrite who also displays some of the threatening sexuality of later Dickens characters like Bradley Headstone and John Jasper; Edith, a prototype for Lady Dedlock, and equally exaggerated; and Mr. Toots, who is madly, hopelessly and hilariously in love with Dombey's daughter Florence("'sof no consequence").
Ultimately, this book becomes more about Dombey's relationship with his daughter, whom he has continually neglected and spurned. Predictably for Dickens, Florence is of an improbably passive and meek disposition, literally unable to think badly of others, and quick to assume the blame in any given situation. Her insistence on blaming herself for her father's ill-treatment of her seems to me somewhat pathological but Dickens presents it merely as proof of her good nature.
This novel has most of the flaws and also the virtues that are typical of Dickens. It is not his best book, but the greater degree of planning that went into it compared to earlier novels means it never loses interest throughout the 800-odd pages. Those familiar with Dickens will be able to forgive the frequent sentimentalism and will enjoy the humour and pathos of the better passages. Dombey and Son is not the first Dickens book anyone should read, but it is a solid addition to his canon nonetheless.
 Emerging genius July 31, 2008
A lengthy novel which is often tiresome, there are however wonderful snippets of the emerging Dickens genius. It is both simple and complex in its construction - one can easily guess quite early as to the eventual conclusion. There are the usual flamboyant characters that you can love or hate or love to hate. Sol, Cuttle, Bagstock and Toots provide the laughs. For comic value this falls far short of `Pickwick' and `Chuzzlewit'. Mr Dombey and Mr Carker are not pleasant fellows and their behaviour impacts profoundly on Edith and Florence. Another consequence of Dickens advance are better drawn female characters than his earlier books.
Less is more June 22, 2008
One of Dicken's lesser known novels, it shares with many of the later works a tendecy to verbosity and prolixity. Read 'Oliver Twist', 'A Tale of Two Cities' or even 'Hard Times' and compare the prose style. These novels are shorter, the prose is stylish but to the point. Why use sixty words to describe something when it could be equally effective in twenty-five?
 Don't doubt Dombey May 21, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I must disagree with comments made previously here about this being a dull book, for I found it enthralling and perfectly of its time. As has been said, the book is not so much about a man named Dombey and his son as it is about his daughter and her step-mother. The plot is quintessentially Dickensian. He is relentless in never letting relief come for more than a moment, and it is thrilling. His characters are never less than intriguing--from the small and waning Dombey clan to minor characters named wonderful things like Captain Cuttle, Miss Tox, Mr. Toots, and Mrs. Nipper. Within the tragic circumstances of a loveless but wealthy family, Dickens injects comical moments in which social climbers or other irritating company invade Dombey's inner sanctum. The emotional core consists not only of one's sympathy for Florence and Edith, but for the awful state of Paul Dombey, cold-man extraordinaire. It's just under 1,000 pages, and while I agree somewhat with the other reviewers in finding the first 100 or so not the most fluid of Dickens' prose, I was drawn in by practically every last page.
Blah blah blah.... March 13, 2008
0 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a book with too many words. I find Dickens to be a creator of enjoyable stories but by no means an admirable writer. It is bubblegum fiction for the classics lover. I enjoy greatly his stories when they are televised or filmed but when reading them I find they lack emotion and depth and fail to keep me hooked. This book in particular was presented bluntly and obviousely, no surprises in it and only one extraordinarily interesting moment-ie the death of mr Carker at least some of his other novels gave you a few more sensational moments ie Great expectations with it's scary opening scene and the burning of miss Havesham etc.
The handling of Florence was delicately done so I did sympathise with her predicament but I was left unconnected to any other character.
The basic storyline and aspects of this are good, but so much of it mimics parts of his other novels, he does like to use the same character types over and over. And don't get me started on his methods of naming his characters..if Dickens were writing a novel about Jack the ripper the criminal would be called Mr Slashemquick or something.
Perhaps it is just me? but like to read things that not only contain good storylines but are in themselves art. I like things that sing on the tongue when read aloud or melt into the mind like poetry or lead you on a journey of self discovery along with the characters...such as Mary shelly's frankenstein or Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary.
Dombey and son is not fun...It's rigid in texture, it's long and obviouse and it's boring it even takes 150 pages to end!. May make a good 1 hour tv special but not worth the slog of 900 pages or so. I gave this three stars for the construction of Florence alone- I liked her.
|
We display the lowest priced offers from a list of new and used items. It is clearly indicated right before the displayed price on whether the displayed item is new or used, i.e. "Buy Used: £8.00" or "Buy New: £8.00".
For more options to buy new (or used) just follow the link that looks like this "New (7) Used (2) from £9.99" right below the shopping cart. The link will not be displayed if there is no other offer.
Free UK delivery available for offers from Amazon.co.uk (terms & conditions) with indication of "Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping" (example). Offers from other sellers are subjected to delivery charge of £2.75 per book. More about free delivery, click here. |
|
|
| Browse by genre |
|
Audio CDs
Languages: Michel Thomas Language Courses, Rapid Language Courses, Courses For Children,
Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, Gaelic, Irish & Welsh, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Vietnamese
Biographies & Memoirs
Business, Finance & Law
Children's Books: Book & CD Gift Packs, Children's Modern, Classics, Education, Harry Potter, Language, Music
Authors: Blyton, Enid, Rowling, JK, Wynne Jones, Diana
Comedy: Comedy Classic, Contemporary Comedy, Bill Bryson, Billy Connolly, Blackadder, Dead Ringers, Fast Show, Hancock, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Monty Python, Rumpole of the Bailey, The Goon Show
Crime, Thrillers & Mystery: Child, Lee, Christie, Agatha, Cornwell, Patricia, Francis, Dick, Grisham, John, Rankin, Ian, Smith, Wilbur
|
Fiction: Literary Classics, Religious, Unabridged, Western
Health, Family & Lifestyle: Personal Growth, Relaxation & Meditation
History: BC-1500, 1501-1700, 1701-Present, This Sceptered Isle
Horror: Herbert, James, King, Stephen, Koontz, Dean
Music
Poetry & Drama
Radio Shows: Dead Ringers, Hancock, The Goon Show
Religion & Spirituality
Romance: Austen, Jane, Binchy, Maeve, Bingham, Charlotte, Collins, Jackie, Cookson, Catherine, Steel, Danielle
Science Fiction & Fantasy: Fantasy, Science Fiction, DiscWorld, Dr Who, Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy, Star Wars, Tolkien
Sports, Hobbies & Games
Travel
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copyright 2006 © audiohome.co.uk, an audio books store Privacy Notice | Delivery | Customer Service | Buying Guide | Search Audiobooks Quickly | | My favourite authors: |
| In CDs: |
| Adams, Douglas |
| Bennett, Alan |
| Bryson, Bill |
| Christie, Agatha |
| Covey, Stephen R. |
| Cornwell, Patricia |
| Dahl, Roald |
| Dickens, Charles |
| Ludlum, Robert |
| Rowling, JK |
| Stevenson, Robert Louis |
| More authors... |
| |
| In cassettes: |
| Adams, Douglas |
| Bennett, Alan |
| Bryson, Bill |
| Christie, Agatha |
| Cornwell, Patricia |
| Dahl, Roald |
| Dickens, Charles |
| Ludlum, Robert |
| Rice, Anne |
| Stevenson, Robert Louis |
| More authors... |
|
|
|
|
Over 30,000 audio books,