A new audio version of Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist is out today.
Audible released a new adaptation of the classic produced by Sam Mendes. Oliver Twist was written by Charles Dickens and originally published between February 1837 and April 1839 in Bentley’s Miscellany. The novel follows orphan Oliver from the workhouses to the house of Mr. Brownlow:
“Orphaned at birth, Oliver Twist is born into the grimmest of 19th century English workhouses with a life of grinding poverty ahead of him. But the boy is a fighter and after being evicted from the workhouse for asking for ‘more’ and surviving a stint as an undertaker’s assistant, he walks many miles to London and finds a whole new life with a gang of young pickpockets led by the Artful Dodger and their guardian Fagin.
Oliver’s adventures are only beginning as he finds his way into the home of wealthy Mr. Brownlow. Even there he is not safe, for Fagin and his even more dangerous colleague, the thief Bill Sikes, seek to snatch him back and lead him deeper into a life of crime. Only Nancy, Bill Sikes’ girlfriend, can ensure Oliver’s future safety, even if that puts her own life at risk. Full of twists and turns, the story moves towards a dramatic climax when murder prompts a manhunt and a final confrontation with the forces threatening Oliver’s future.”
The cast includes Brian Cox (Succession), Nicola Coughlan (Bridgerton), Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out), Emilio Villa-Muhammad (The Man Who Fell to Earth), Kit Connor (Heartstopper), Paapa Essiedu (I May Destroy You), Julia Davis (Gavin & Stacey), Nick Mohammed (Ted Lasso), Patricia Allison (Sex Education), and Diane Morgan (Motherland).
The audio adaptation was recorded in London and features Foley recordings done in Dickens’s house. Dan Gillespie-Sells recorded an original score for the audio.
Oliver Twist is the first of three Dickens Audible Originals all produced by Sam Mendes. The next volume will be released in 2023.
The news was first released by Deadline.
