Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

Preview

£0.00 for first 30 days

Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Dombey and Son

By: John Mullan - introduction, Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Owen Teale, John Mullan - introduction
Try for £0.00

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £31.99

Buy Now for £31.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Summary

Audible presents an original dramatisation of Charles Dickens' Dombey and Son, first published as Dealings with the Firm of Dombey and Son: Wholesale, Retail and for Exportation.

A literary masterpiece in which Dickens' gift for vivid characterisation is at its best, this is the story of a powerful man whose inability to appreciate those around him leads to his lonely demise and, later, his possible redemption.

This edition features an exclusive introduction written and narrated by John Mullan, professor of English at University College London.

About the book:

Paul Dombey, owner of the shipping company Dombey and Son, dreams of having a male heir to take on the family business. With only one daughter to speak of, his resentment grows and is often manifested through the neglectful if not abusive treatment of his wife, Fanny, and child, Florence.

Following the long-awaited birth of a boy, Mr Dombey triumphantly throws himself into the care and education of his pride and joy, his son, Paul, indifferent to the death of his wife following an arduous labour.

As his daughter grows in strength, beauty and kindness, his son's sickly disposition makes him weaker and weaker by the day. Despite the bond and friendship forged between the siblings, Mr Dombey continues to despise and resent Florence, and after a period of intended rest by the seaside, the family is once more rocked by a tragic death.

A touching and unexpectedly uplifting story of change, forgiveness and familial love, Dombey and Son will keep you gripped, moved and wholly surprised until the end.

About the author:

With his father incarcerated, Charles Dickens had to abandon his studies at a young age and set to work in a factory so as to support himself. Despite his short-lived education, Dickens went on to write 15 novels, various articles, novellas and short stories. These include Hard Times, Bleak House, Oliver Twist, Barnaby Rudge, Little Dorrit and A Tale of Two Cities. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became the ultimate self-made man.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audible, Ltd
activate_samplebutton_t1

Listeners also enjoyed...

Martin Chuzzlewit cover art
The Pickwick Papers: Dickens on Dickens cover art
Hard Times cover art
The Christmas Stories of Charles Dickens cover art
Barnaby Rudge cover art
A Christmas Carol cover art
The Old Curiosity Shop cover art
A Tale of Two Cities cover art
Little Dorrit cover art
Ghost Stories cover art
Sketches by Boz: Volume 1 cover art
Our Mutual Friend cover art
Great Expectations cover art
Christmas Stories cover art
Nicholas Nickleby cover art
Jane Eyre cover art

What listeners say about Dombey and Son

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    400
  • 4 Stars
    84
  • 3 Stars
    30
  • 2 Stars
    7
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    427
  • 4 Stars
    38
  • 3 Stars
    10
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    337
  • 4 Stars
    104
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    8
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Standout Performance by Teale

My first Audible and first Dickens and it’s set the bar pretty high! Eoin Teale’s performance really made it for me: completely bring the story to life. Great story too, if a little sentimental at some points. Would recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

A wonderful reading of a book of which I was not familiar. Owen Teal's performance was just tremendous. My dog has enjoyed the many hours of extra walks we shared just so I could listen and enjoy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Although a little long-winded at times, an enjoyable story and wonderfully narrated by Owen Teale.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Brilliant narration!

It’s been a joy to listen to this skilled narrator, his versatility is unsurpassed. The book is typically Dickens full of glimpses of life in those days - the characters well portrayed, and descriptions of life , if exaggerated, interesting.. Even if you’re not that keen on Dickens I’d recommend that you listen even for the superb narration!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Great performance

This is a long book with a lot of characters - don’t think I would have got to the end without the wonderful performance of the reader Owen Teale. His characters came to life and so I stuck with it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Owen Teal is stupendous

We loved this audio book and are sad to have got to the end. Owen Teals narration is utterly brilliant

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

An Epic Tale Well Told

This is a tale with hope as its theme, dashed hopes, forlorn hope, hopes deferred and the possibility of hope fulfilled. This is as true for the listener as it is for the characters involved. As you might expect from Dickens, his characters are the stars and although at times it makes grim reading, I shed more than a few tears, it is the likes of Captain Tuttle, Susan Nipper and in particular, Mr Toots who carry you through. Owen Teale's performance is worthy of considerable praise.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The most fabulous reading by the narrator.

I was recommended this of all the Dickens novels by a friend. it did not disappoint. The reader was extraordinary.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful story. Flawless narration.

Dickens at his best. Some breathtaking passages of gorgeous writing. Unforgettable characters (of course), the story doesn't get bogged down like some of Dicken's novels can. The complicated characters made so real and differentiated by the narrator that it was hard to get lost. Loved it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful

What a wonderful exploration in language. Beautifully written and as beautifully read.Highly recommended for anyone who loves language

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful