Master Humphrey's Clock-Charles Dickens

"David Copperfield," condensed by Charles Dickens for his dramatic readings in America, is a timeless exploration of personal growth and resilience in the face of adversity. This beloved classic delves into themes of identity, social class, and the quest for belonging, resonating with listeners today as they navigate their own journeys through life's challenges. Dickens's vivid storytelling and rich characterizations invite audiences to reflect on the importance of compassion, perseverance, and the transformative power of love and friendship. As David's life unfolds, marked by trials and triumphs, the enduring messages of hope and self-discovery remind us that our experiences, however difficult, shape who we are and what we can achieve. Engaging with this work offers a profound understanding of the human spirit and the timeless quest for meaning and purpose.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain (version 2) by Charles Dickens.The last of Dickens' Christmas novellas (1848), The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain centres around Professor Redlaw, a teacher of chemistry, whose personal life has been marred by sorrow and, he feels, by wrongs done to him in his past. He is haunted by his ghostly twin, who offers him the opportunity to forget completely all 'sorrow, wrong and trouble', claiming that this will make him happier. Redlaw wavers, but finally accepts this offer, discovering too late that there are conditions attached to it which cause him to infect with this unwanted 'gift' nearly everyone with whom he comes in contact. The story is populated by Dickens' archetypal comic figures - the Swidgers, who are servants of the college, and the hard-working but poor Tetterby family who run a nearby shop.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Chimes by Charles Dickens.The Chimes: A Goblin Story of Some Bells that Rang an Old Year Out and a New Year In is the second of Charles Dickens' Christmas books, published in 1844. Its contemporary setting is the "Hungry Forties", a time of social and political unrest, and the book has a strong moral message. It remained popular for many years, although its fame has since been eclipsed by that of A Christmas Carol , the first of the series. Our hero Toby ("Trotty") Veck is a poor but hard-working man, whose beloved daughter Meg is due to marry on New Year's Day. Trotty, who is appalled by newspaper reports of crime and immorality, is further depressed by his encounters with the rich and influential Alderman Cute and Sir Joseph Bowley, who make him feel that the poor have no right to exist in society, and his daughter has no right to marry.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

American Notes (Version 2) by Charles Dickens.Charles Dickens records his impressions of America during his 1842 journey.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Master Humphrey's Clock by Charles Dickens.Ultimately, the periodical included the complete novels "The Old Curiosity Club" and "Barnaby Rudge."Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Seven Poor Travellers by Charles Dickens.One of Dickens' Christmas stories, this was first published as part of the Christmas number of Household Words for 1854. The first chapter relates Dickens' visit to the ancient Richard Watts's Charity at Rochester. The second chapter is the touching story of "Richard Doubledick", which Dickens supposedly told the travellers, and Dickens' journey home on Christmas morning provides the short concluding chapter.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Battle of Life by Charles Dickens.While "The Battle of Life" is one of Charles Dickens' Christmas Books - his annual release of a story just before Christmas - this one breaks the tradition by not being concerned with Christmas. Rather, its subtitle, "A Love Story", reveals more of the plot. The major events of this book take place on land that once was a battleground. That is just a backdrop for Dickens' idea of the real battle of life - finding and winning the right partner, so that life will go on to the next generation. The family that lives there is rather confused in its affections and intentions regarding who should end up with whom. We are thrust into the fight to make things work out, and, happily for a Christmas book, Dickens leads us on to a happy ending.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Some Short Christmas Stories by Charles Dickens.Here are some classic, short Christmas stories from Charles Dickens, who, one may easily argue, was the greatest Christmas storyteller to date. In this season, may we do as Dickens' asked: "Welcome, everything! Welcome, alike what has been, and what never was, and what we hope may be, to your shelter underneath the holly, to your places round the Christmas fire, where what is sits open-hearted!" Happy Holidays!Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Three Ghost Stories by Charles Dickens.As a gifted writer with a strong interest in supernatural phenomena, Charles Dickens produced a string of ghost stories with enduring charm. Three of them are presented here, of which The Signal Man is one of the best known. Though quite different from his most celebrated realistic and humorous critical novels, these ghost stories, Gothic and grotesque as they are, are of good portrayal, and worth a read/listen.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.

Charles Dickens 200th Anniversary Collection Vol. 1 by Charles Dickens.This first volume was released on Dickens' 200th birthday, February 7th 2012 and further volumes followed during the anniversary year. Volume 1 includes short stories including, amongst others, The Holly Tree , the first part of Holiday Romance and three pieces from Mugby Junction . Some items requiring a little further explanation are Prince Bull , written as a fairy tale, but in reality a scathing attack on the Government's handling of supplies to the troops in the Crimean War; Old Lamps for New Ones in which Dickens makes clear his low opinion of the ethos of the Pre-Raphaelite school of painting; and Frauds on the Fairies , a polemic against George Cruikshank's bowdlerisation of fairy tales for moralistic purposes, and the interesting revelation that 'product placement' is by no means a new phenomenon.Featured on David Copperfield - Charles Dickens.Public-domain recording courtesy of LibriVox (librivox.org).This episode includes AI-generated content.