February 27, 2012
This beloved classic from Dickens follows the life and adventures of a six-year-old orphan named Pip as he makes his way and comes of age in 19th-century England. Simon Prebble turns in a solid performance in this audio edition, offering up a lush and resolutely dramatic reading and creating a panoply of unique voices and accents for the book’s many characters. But while Prebble’s performance is lavish, it fails to distinguish itself from the scores of previous audio productions of Dickens’s novels. Still, his reading remains a pleasure and a well-orchestrated introduction to the world of Dickens—one that could serve as a wonderful opportunity for both fans and those new to the author’s work.
July 1, 2010
These inexpensive condensed versions of classic novels competently delineate plot points, though the retellings sacrifice complexity of language and depth of theme in the name of age-appropriateness. Occasional black-and-white illustrations add shades of meaning.
(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)