Best A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens Audio Book Podcasts (2025)

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GEORGE SILVERMAN'S EXPLANATION 📚: with Emily Middleton 42:57

2M ago42:57

42:57

Hot on the heels of Dominic's audiobook of George Silverman's Explanation comes the discussion with Dr. Emily Middleton (formerly Bell) … who we’ve met before in the episodes on Oliver Twist and The Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices … Emily is working on George Silverman, and other rarer Dickens stories for Oxford University Press, and has just pub…

1
George Silverman's Explanation (Audiobook): Read by Dominic Gerrard 1:16:51

2M ago1:16:51

1:16:51

Dominic reads George Silverman's Explanation - one of Dickens' rarer short stories - ahead of an upcoming discussion with Dr. Emily Middleton ... Support the show If you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard Thank you so much! Host: Domini…

1
Pickwick's Legacy ... 6:33

2M ago6:33

6:33

Here are two fragments that didn't make the cut in the previous episode on THE PICKWICK PAPERS ... Prof. Hugo Bowles talks about the afterlife of Pickwick & Gina Beck reads an extract where Pickwick is observed from a window by a Scientific Gentleman! Support the show If you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series yo…

1
THE PICKWICK PAPERS 📚 : with Hugo Bowles 48:39

2M ago48:39

48:39

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Prof. Hugo Bowles who is currently working the OUP edition of The Pickwick Papers to guide us through this riot of a novel - if it is a novel? Hugo is an alumnus of both Oxford and Cambridge where he read English, Classics and Applied Linguistics. For over three decades he lectured at four Italian Universities an…

1
A Tour of 48 Doughty Street: with Jordan Evans-Hill 32:49

5M ago32:49

32:49

Today’s episode is A Tale of Two Podcasts where Dominic teams up with Jordan Evans-Hill: creator and host of the Charles Dickens Museum’s Inimitable podcast. Here Jordan takes the listener on a tour inside number 48 Doughty St - the house where Dickens lived and worked as he completed Pickwick, wrote the entirety of Oliver Twist & Nicholas Nickleby…

1
A Jane Austen Year ... 1:00

6M ago1:00

1:00

Dominic has helped create a sister podcast to mark the 250th Anniversary of Jane Austen's birth! A Jane Austen Year is told by the people that work at Jane Austen’s House - the idyllic Hampshire cottage, in the south of England, where Jane Austen wrote her world famous novels. On the first of every month a new episode of letters, scenes from the no…

1
1 - Marley's Ghost 44:28

6M ago44:28

44:28

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Charles Dickens

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2 - The First of the Three Spirits 39:01

6M ago39:01

39:01

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Charles Dickens

1
3 - The Second of the Three Spirits 50:14

6M ago50:14

50:14

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Charles Dickens

1
4 - The Last of the Spirits 33:07

6M ago33:07

33:07

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Charles Dickens

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5 - The End of It 14:42

6M ago14:42

14:42

More great books at LoyalBooks.comBy Charles Dickens

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Part Two) 📚 : with John Bowen 52:41

6M ago52:41

52:41

Welcome to Part Two of Dominic and John Bowen's journey through A Christmas Carol ... With readings again from Hollie Hales and violin parts performed by Alexis Bennett. HAPPY CHRISTMAS !!! Support the show If you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/do…

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A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Part One) 📚 : with John Bowen 55:04

6M ago55:04

55:04

It’s Christmas Eve, and Dominic takes a deep dive with you all through A Christmas Carol. Returning to the series is the inimitable Prof. John Bowen (who recently worked on David Edgar’s Carol adaptation for the RSC) and who like many of us, re-reads this ghostly little book every Christmas and has pondered its power and meaning for decades. The Ca…

1
'What Brutal Hand …?': with Lydia Craig 4:40

6M ago4:40

4:40

*This episode focuses on the theme of domestic violence* Dominic shares a bonus fragment from his last interview with Dr. Lydia Craig on The Haunted Man and The Ghost's Bargain ... It is a moment in the story where Redlaw comes across ‘a woman sitting on the stairs, either asleep or forlorn’ and ‘whose head’ is ‘bent down on her hands and knees.’ R…

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THE HAUNTED MAN AND THE GHOST'S BARGAIN 📚 : with Lydia Craig 54:05

7M ago54:05

54:05

Todays episode is on Dickens’ final Christmas Book The Haunted Man and the Ghost’s Bargain. A deeply powerful story, where the chemist, Stephen Redlaw is offered the chance to forget all his painful memories by a Phantom who is a ghastly copy of himself drawn from the shadows in his study. Redlaw accepts the ghost’s bargain … but then faces a despe…

1
The Christmas Illustrations: with Lucinda Hawksley 48:20

7M ago48:20

48:20

This episode marks the 3rd birthday of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire! 🔥 In this first Christmas episode for 2024 Dominic is joined again by the critically acclaimed author, broadcaster, and art-historian Lucinda Hawksley. And as they return to Dickens’ Christmas books their focus this time is on the illustrations found in each of them. Many of y…

1
The Gordon Riots: with Ian Haywood 50:52

1y ago50:52

50:52

Dominic is joined today by the inimitable Professor Ian Haywood, of the Centre for Inclusive Humanities at the University of Roehampton. Together they delve into the astonishing 'Riots of Eighty' that gripped London for a week and were brought thrillingly to life in Dickens' Barnaby Rudge ... Ian is a specialist in the radical politics and visual c…

1
DROOD ...📚 And Our Endless Attempts To End It: with Pete Orford 40:38

1y ago40:38

40:38

Dominic is joined again by the inimitable Dr. Pete Orford for Part II of his examination of The Mystery of Edwin Drood ... Pete’s book Edwin Drood: Charles Dickens’ Unfinished Novel And Our Endless Attempts To End It … (Pen & Sword books) is our guide throughout. It is a hugely entertaining read where scholarly citations and tomfoolery combine with…

1
Mrs Dickens: with Emily Howes 36:22

1y ago36:22

36:22

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Emily Howes, author of The Painters Daughters, who is currently writing her second book, Mrs Dickens, all about the life of Catherine Hogarth and her marriage to Charles Dickens … Emily is an alumna of Cambridge University, where she was a member of the famous Footlights. After gaining a First in English, she stu…

1
London Tide: with Ben Power 29:31

1y ago29:31

29:31

Dominic meets Ben Power backstage at London’s National Theatre who takes a break from rehearsals to talk about London Tide - an exciting new staging of Our Mutual Friend - which he has adapted with songs composed by the award-winning PJ Harvey Ben is a Tony Award winning, and a BAFTA & Olivier Award nominated writer for stage and screen, and an Ass…

1
"The Haunted Man" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Andrews 9:32

1+ y ago9:32

9:32

Our final festive extract comes from Dickens’ last Christmas Book The Haunted Man and The Ghost’s Bargain - read today by the fantastic actor Tom Andrews Tom’s screen credits include: This England (for Revolution films & Sky Atlantic), Netflix’s The Strays, Feelgood & Afterlife; HBO’S I Hate Susie and the BBC’s Show Trial … His stage work includes …

1
“The Battle of Life” (Excerpt): Read by Rebecca Tanwen 11:49

1+ y ago11:49

11:49

Happy 6th Day of Christmas! Today’s guest is the wonderful Rebecca Tanwen reading for us the opening pages of Dickens’ 4th Christmas book The Battle of Life … The story opens with a wide shot of an ancient battle ground, where the traces of the fight have lingered through the centuries, not only in the earth but in the minds of the generations that…

1
"The Cricket on the Hearth" (Excerpt): Read by Tom Bennett 13:18

1+ y ago13:18

13:18

Happy 5th Day of Christmas! The fantastic actor Tom Bennett reads an excerpt from Dickens’ third Christmas book The Cricket on the Hearth … Caleb Plummer and his daughter Bertha are poor toymakers in the service of the cruel, miserly Tackleton. As the scene unfolds we learn that Caleb’s daughter Bertha is blind, and that her father is constantly tr…

1
"The Chimes" (Excerpt): Read by Carlyss Peer 11:42

1+ y ago11:42

11:42

The wonderful actress Carlyss Peer returns to the series to read an excerpt from Dickens' second Christmas Book The Chimes You'll be transported to Trotty's humble abode, feeling the chill of the London streets and the welcoming embrace of his heart as he opens his home to strangers, reminding us of the transformative power of kindness and communit…

1
Christmas Carols: with Harry Christophers & The Sixteen 52:32

1+ y ago52:32

52:32

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Harry Christophers CBE , founder and conductor of The Sixteen, one of the worlds most revered choral ensembles. With thanks to CORO for these stunning Christmas excerpts: Carol of the Bells Apple / Spotify Pilgrim Jesus Apple / Spotify Of a Rose Apple / Spotify This Have I Done ... Apple / Spotify Lo, How a Rose …

1
"The Holly Tree" (Excerpt): Read by Chris Nayak 13:51

1+ y ago13:51

13:51

The wonderful actor Chris Nayak reads the from the First Branch of The Holly-Tree Inn - one of Dickens' rarer Christmas stories … Packed with self-deprecating humour, a fantastic snowy atmosphere, this a very pleasing festive narrative. Chris’ stage credits include King Duncan in Macbeth at the Globe this year, and previously the RSC and West End. …

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A Dickensian Christmas Dinner: with Pen Vogler 40:47

1+ y ago40:47

40:47

Dominic is joined by the wonderful award winning food historian Pen Vogler who returns to the podcast to talk about Dickensian Christmas Dinners ... Focusing on Dickens' five Christmas books - A Christmas Carol, The Chimes, The Cricket on the Hearth, The Battle of Life and The Haunted Man - Pen explores what the characters eat and why. From the Cra…

1
"A Christmas Carol" Stave One (Excerpt) : Read by Rosie Holt 11:24

1+ y ago11:24

11:24

Award-winning actress, comedian, and satirist Rosie Holt returns to the series to read the opening of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol on the 180th anniversary of its publication today in 1843 ... Rosie makes regular appearances on BBC Radio 4 and as a satirist her work is so powerful that half the country seem to think she’s an actual Conservati…

1
The Lost Portrait: with Emma Rutherford 40:00

1+ y ago40:00

40:00

Dominic’s guest today is the inimitable Emma Rutherford who recalls her time working on the rediscovery of a lost portrait of Dickens, painted by Margaret Gillies in 1843, and lost for over a century until its serendipitous reappearance at a South African auction. A pivotal snapshot of Dickens' life, the portrait's story hints at the profound bond …

1
"Christmas at Dingley Dell": Read by Gina Beck 11:30

1+ y ago11:30

11:30

Light up your holiday season with the enchanting narration of our guest, the brilliant Gina Beck as she transports us to the charm and warmth of a festive journey from Charles Dickens' Pickwick Papers in a way that is sure to stir the Christmas spirit in you. Gina has been a star of London’s West End for nearly two decades playing the leads in Matl…

1
Charles Ignatius Sancho: with Paterson Joseph 50:24

1+ y ago50:24

50:24

The award-winning actor and writer Patterson Joseph takes the listener on a fascinating journey into the captivating life of Charles Ignatius Sancho, an African man who found favour among the highest reaches of 18th-century British society, and who had a front-row seat to the infamous Gordon Riots of 1780 ... Sharing the inspiration behind his thri…

1
Palimpsest: with Céleste Callen 25:20

1+ y ago25:20

25:20

Celeste Callen returns to share her insights on how Henri Bergson's theories of the 'superficial self' and the 'mechanical man' permeate through Dickens' novels such as The Signal-Man, Bleak House, Hard Times, The Chimes, and Master Humphrey's Clock Celeste Callen holds a BA (Hons) in English Language and Literature from King's College London and a…

1
The Haunted Actor: with James Swanton 47:04

1+ y ago47:04

47:04

Dominic is joined by the inimitable James Swanton who is performing A Christmas Carol, The Chimes and Haunted Man in person this year at the Dickens Museum. And for those of you listening outside the UK you can watch a live stream of his Haunted Man - filmed inside number 48 Doughty Street - on the 11th December. James read English at Selwyn Colleg…

1
Stuffed (A History of Good Food and Hard Times in Britain): with Pen Vogler 31:28

1+ y ago31:28

31:28

Dominic is joined by the award-winning author and food historian Pen Vogler who offers insightful reflections on how Charles Dickens used food as complex metaphors in his novels, that reflect the psychological and societal shifts during the Victorian era. The richly detailed food descriptions in works like A Christmas Carol and Little Dorrit reflec…

1
The Gunpowder Plot (from 'A Child's History of England') 📚 : Read by Dominic Gerrard 19:35

1+ y ago19:35

19:35

Host Dominic Gerrard reads Dickens' account of The Gunpowder Plot from his 1851 A Child's History of England ... Dickens transports back us to 1605, the era of King James I, Guy Fawkes and a conspiracy that shook the nation. This compelling narrative is a tribute to November 5th, a date that continues to resonate through the annals of history. Supp…

1
Charles and Catherine: with Helena Kelly 25:54

1+ y ago25:54

25:54

It is Publication Eve for today’s guest the inimitable Dr. Helena Kelly. Her latest book The Life & Lies of Charles Dickens (published by Icon Books) lifts the cover on what we think we know about Dickens from his friend and sanctioned biographer John Forster. In this episode we try to spend some time with Dickens’ wife Catherine, and understand th…

1
THE SIGNAL-MAN 📚: with John Bowen 42:08

1+ y ago42:08

42:08

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Professor John Bowen who returns to this series to explore the hidden depths beneath the pages of one of Dickens' most iconic ghost stories -The Signal-Man Written only a year after Dickens survived the Staplehurst Rail Crash, The Signal-Man finds an author grappling with trauma and the conflicted feelings of fea…

1
THE LAZY TOUR OF TWO IDLE APPRENTICES 📚: with Dr. Emily Bell 51:32

1+ y ago51:32

51:32

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Dr. Emily Bell who guides the listener through the rollercoaster that is Charles Dickens & Wilkie Collins' Lazy Tour of Two Idle Apprentices - a unique blend of travel writing and ghost stories seen through the eyes of the quintessentially British characters of Francis Goodchild and Thomas Idle, who amusingly mir…

1
The Shorthand Mysteries: with Dr. Claire Wood & Prof. Hugo Bowles 31:48

1+ y ago31:48

31:48

Are you an unsung codebreaker? Does your knowledge and feel for Dickens mean that you could be the next person to crack some of the hieroglyphic mystery of the shorthand system that Dickens created for himself. Or are you able to trace the source of the writings that Dickens read from whilst dictating to his pupil Arthur Stone …? A year ago Dominic…

1
Copperfield, Chuzzlewit ... Partridge? : with Armando Iannucci 41:54

2y ago41:54

41:54

Welcome to this special one-on-one chat with Armando Iannucci - one of the leading comedy writers and political satirists of our time - where we delve into his literary passions and influences. This lively conversation peels back the layers of Armando's lifelong love of Charles Dickens - Martin Chuzzlewit in particular -and his interest in John Mil…

1
Dickens, Bergson & Time Travel: with Céleste Callen 1:09:34

2y ago1:09:34

1:09:34

What does it mean to experience time? Is it a linear journey from past to present, or is it a complex and intricate web of memories, feelings, and experiences? Our guest today is the inimitable Céleste Callen, from The University of Edinburgh, who delves into her thesis that explores subjective temporal experience in Dickens’ fiction, through the l…

1
THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD 📚: with Pete Orford 1:21:06

2y ago1:21:06

1:21:06

Welcome to a new series of Charles Dickens: A Brain on Fire!🔥 Today we take a deep dive into Dickens’ final, unfinished novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood … Joining us to talk about this extraordinary book, is the inimitable Dr Pete Orford who is a Lecturer in English Literature, and Course Director for the MA research in Charles Dickens, at the Uni…

1
Dickens' Handwriting: with Emma Bache 55:39

2y ago55:39

55:39

What if their scribbles on paper could reveal intimate details about a person’s character, personality, and even their health? Charles Dickens, one of the greatest authors in the annals of literature, is under the microscope in this riveting conversation with Emma Bache, one of the UK's top graphologists. Emma offers her expert analysis on Dickens'…

1
Paul Dombey's Wallpaper: with J.M. Varese 42:01

2y ago42:01

42:01

What do luxurious wallpapers, deadly poison, and supernatural elements have in common? Join host Dominic Gerrard for a captivating conversation with novelist and literary historian Jon Michael Varese as we unravel the mysteries of his latest novel, The Company. Set in 1870, this gothic tale follows the Braithwhite family as they grapple with the sh…

1
The Mega Dickens Readalong: with Katie Lumsden 50:04

2y ago50:04

50:04

Dominic welcomes the brilliant writer Katie Lumsden back to the podcast. Katie's debut novel The Secrets of Hartwood Hall, published by Penguin's Random House, is now out in the shops (both sides of the Atlantic) and ready to be a part of your summer reading. Katie has also launched a The Mega Dickens Readalong, where you the listener are all invit…

1
Bleak Health: with Nicholas Cambridge 46:19

2y ago46:19

46:19

Dominic is joined by Dr. Nicholas Cambridge who is an Honorary Research Fellow in Humanities at the University of Buckingham and a visiting scholar in Medical Humanities at Nova Scotia’s Dalhousie University. After qualifying as an electrical engineer, Nicholas switched career to became a GP and as a medical student won the first ever History of Me…

1
Biddy: with Laurie Ogden 22:25

2y ago22:25

22:25

Dominic is joined by the brilliant actress, poet & playwright Laurie Ogden. Together they talk about her experience filming her TV debut as Biddy in FX's Great Expectations ... Laurie's poetry collection Humaning is available to purchase here: Support the show If you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can bu…

1
OLIVER TWIST 📚: with Emily Bell 1:02:39

2y ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Dominic is joined by the brilliant Dr. Emily Bell who digs deep into Dickens’ second novel: Oliver Twist; or, the Parish Boy’s Progress … Emily is a Lecturer in Digital Humanities & Digital Skills at the University of Leeds; and is an alumna of both the University of Warwick (where she read English) and York where she completed her MA and Phd. She …

1
Dickens Re-imagined: with Steven Knight 25:50

2+ y ago25:50

25:50

Dominic is joined by the inimitable Steven Knight who's exciting and daring screenplays include Peaky Blinders, Taboo and SAS Rogue Heroes. Steven also adapted the dark and thrilling FX A Christmas Carol (with Guy Pearce as Scrooge) and has now re-imagined Great Expectations in a new series led by Olivia Colman. Now screening on Hulu in the US and …

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"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times ..." A Tale of Two Cities (Chapter One): Read by Dominic Gerrard 7:15

2+ y ago7:15

7:15

Host Dominic Gerrard reads the opening chapter of A Tale of Two Cities ... Support the show If you'd like to make a donation to support the costs of producing this series you can buy 'coffees' right here https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dominicgerrard Thank you so much! Host: Dominic Gerrard Series Artwork: Léna Gibert Original Music: Dominic Gerrard T…

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