Audiobook

Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (Version 3)

Nicholas Nickleby was Dickens's third novel following on from Pickwick Papers and Oliver twist. It has a cast of wonderful characters that include Wackford Squeers, the reprehensible and villainous headmaster whose reign of terror at his school in Yorkshire resulted in the abuse and deaths of many of his unwanted and orphaned children, Mr Vincent Crummles and his hilariously inept touring company, the munificent Cheeryble brothers, Ralph Nickleby, Nicholas's uncle, a mean spirited man who is driven by avarice and irrational hatred of his nephew, Smike a boy brutalised by Squeers and his family leaving him mentally and physically handicapped and Mrs Nickleby, Nicholas’s mother, who is pretentiously genteel and somewhat garrulous.

There are many more finely drawn characters who combine to make this not only a comic masterpiece of the period but more than one love story threads its way through the dialogue. Probably what we would call today a ‘Romacom’ and as such Nicholas Nickleby never ceases to delight. (Summary by Peter Keeble)

Year of Publication: 1838Genres: General Fiction

Running Time: 31 hours 36 minutes 41 seconds

#	Chapter Name
1	Authors Preface Peter John Keeble	12:05
2	Chapter 1- Introduces All The Rest Peter John Keeble	12:49
3	Of Mr Ralph Nickleby, And His Establishments . . . Peter John Keeble	28:27
4	Mr Ralph Nickleby receives sad tidings of his brother . . .The reader is informed how he liked Nicholas . . . Peter John Keeble	25:10
5	Nicholas and his Uncle . . . wait upon Mr Wackford Squeers, the Yorkshire Schoolmaster Peter John Keeble	28:23
6	Nicholas starts for Yorkshire. Of his Leave-taking and his Fellow-Travellers . . . Peter John Keeble	24:38
7	In which the Occurrence of the Accident . . . affords an Opportunity . . .to tell Stories against each other Peter John Keeble	52:21
8	Mr and Mrs Squeers at Home Peter John Keeble	18:32
9	Of the Internal Economy of Dotheboys Hall Peter John Keeble	30:40
10	Of Miss Squeers, Mrs Squeers, Master Squeers, and Mr Squeers . . . Peter John Keeble	34:33
11	How Mr Ralph Nickleby provided for his Niece and Sister-in-Law Peter John Keeble	30:37
12	Newman Noggs inducts Mrs and Miss Nickleby into their New Dwelling in the City Peter John Keeble	12:30
13	Whereby the Reader will be enabled to trace the further course of Miss Fanny Squeer's Love . . . Peter John Keeble	25:17
14	Nicholas varies the Monotony of Dothebys Hall . . . Peter John Keeble	31:48
15	Having the Misfortune to treat of none but Common People . . . Peter John Keeble	27:45
16	Acquaints the Reader with the Cause and Origin of the Interruption . . . Peter John Keeble	30:24
17	Nicholas seeks to employ himself in a New Capacity . . . Peter John Keeble	45:51
18	Follows the Fortunes of Miss Nickleby Peter John Keeble	21:45
19	Miss Knag, after doting on Kate Nickleby . . . makes up her Mind to hate her for evermore . . . Peter John Keeble	31:57
20	Descriptive of a Dinner at Mr Ralph Nickleby's . . . Peter John Keeble	37:43
21	Wherein Nicholas at length encounters his Uncle . . . His Resolution. Peter John Keeble	27:05
22	Madam Mantalini finds herself in a Situation . . . and Miss Nickleby finds herself in no Situation at all Peter John Keeble	29:39
23	Nicholas, accompanied by Smike, sallies forth to seek his Fortune . . . Peter John Keeble	34:07
24	Treats of the Company of Mr Vincent Crummles, and of his Affairs, Domestic and Theatrical Peter John Keeble	29:21
25	Of the Great Bespeak for Miss Snevellicci . . . Peter John Keeble	38:36
26	Concerning a young Lady from London . . . and an elderly Admirer who follows in her Train . . . Peter John Keeble	31:08
27	Is fraught with some Danger to Miss Nickleby's Peace of Mind Peter John Keeble	25:06
28	Mrs Nickleby becomes acquainted with Messrs Pyke and Pluck . . . Peter John Keeble	34:49
29	Miss Nickleby, rendered desperate by the Persecution of Sir Mulberry Hawk . . . appeals. . . to her Uncle for Protection Peter John Keeble	39:36
30	Of the Proceedings of Nicholas, and certain Internal Divisions in the Company . . . Peter John Keeble	21:12
31	Festivities are held in honour of Nicholas . . . Peter John Keeble	37:25
32	Of Ralph Nickleby and Newman Noggs . . . Peter John Keeble	17:19
33	Relating chiefly to some remarkable Conversation, and some remarkable Proceedings . . . Peter John Keeble	24:36
34	In which Mr. Ralph Nickleby is relieved, by a very expeditious Process, from all Commerce with his Relations Peter John Keeble	16:15
35	Wherein Mr. Ralph Nickleby is visited by Persons with whom the Reader has been already made acquainted Peter John Keeble	36:02
36	Smike becomes known to Mrs. Nickleby and Kate. Nicholas also meets with new Acquaintances . . . Peter John Keeble	38:22
37	Private and confidential; relating to Family Matters . . . Mr Kenwigs underwent violent Agitation . . . Mrs. Kenwigs was as well as could be expected Peter John Keeble	18:38
38	Nicholas finds further Favour in the Eyes of the brothers Cheeryble and Mr Timothy Linkinwater . . . Peter John Keeble	41:35
39	Comprises certain Particulars arising out of a Visit of Condolence . . . Smike unexpectedly encounters a very old Friend . . . Peter John Keeble	35:51
40	In which another old Friend encounters Smike, very opportunely . . . Peter John Keeble	20:19
41	In which Nicholas falls in Love. . . . Peter John Keeble	40:15
42	Containing some Romantic Passages between Mrs. Nickleby and the Gentleman in the Small-clothes next Door Peter John Keeble	27:35
43	Illustrative of the convivial Sentiment, that the best of Friends must sometimes part Peter John Keeble	25:03
44	Officiates as a kind of Gentleman Usher, in bringing various People together Peter John Keeble	33:42
45	Mr. Ralph Nickleby cuts an old Acquaintance . . Peter John Keeble	34:39
46	Containing Matter of a surprising Kind Peter John Keeble	29:41
47	Throws some Light upon Nicholas's Love, but whether for Good or Evil the Reader must determine Peter John Keeble	33:58
48	Mr. Ralph Nickleby has some confidential Intercourse with another old Friend. . . Peter John Keeble	36:59
49	Being for the Benefit of Mr. Vincent Crummles, and positively his last Appearance on this Stage Peter John Keeble	26:46
50	Chronicles the further Proceedings of the Nickleby Family, and the Sequel of the Adventure of the Gentleman in the Small-clothes Peter John Keeble	36:55
51	Involves a serious Catastrophe Peter John Keeble	34:19
52	The Project of Mr. Ralph Nickleby and his Friend approaching a successful Issue, becomes unexpectedly known to another Party . . . Peter John Keeble	27:12
53	Nicholas despairs of rescuing Madeline Bray . . . Peter John Keeble	30:26
54	Containing the further Progress of the Plot contrived by Mr. Ralph Nickleby and Mr. Arthur Gride Peter John Keeble	39:31
55	The Crisis of the Project and its Result Peter John Keeble	27:09
56	Of Family Matters, Cares, Hopes, Disappointments, and Sorrows Peter John Keeble	29:10
57	Ralph Nickleby, baffled by his Nephew in his late Design, hatches a Scheme of Retaliation . . . Peter John Keeble	30:20
58	How Ralph Nickleby's Auxiliary went about his Work, and how he prospered with it Peter John Keeble	25:36
59	In which one Scene of this History is closed Peter John Keeble	14:25
60	The Plots begin to fail, and Doubts and Dangers to disturb the Plotter Peter John Keeble	35:35
61	The Dangers thicken, and the Worst is Told Peter John Keeble	27:02
62	Wherein Nicholas and his Sister forfeit the good Opinion of all worldly and prudent People Peter John Keeble	23:46
63	Ralph makes one last Appointment—and keeps it Peter John Keeble	14:30
64	The Brothers Cheeryble make various Declarations for themselves and others . . . Peter John Keeble	23:12
65	An old Acquaintance is recognised . . . and Dotheboys Hall breaks up for ever Peter John Keeble	21:38
66	Conclusion Peter John Keeble	7:01