Our Mutual Friend, Version 2


Read by Don W. Jenkins

(4.6 stars; 21 reviews)

Our Mutual Friend (written in the years 1864–65) is the last novel completed by Charles Dickens and is one of his most sophisticated works, combining psychological insight with social analysis. It centres on, in the words of critic J. Hillis Miller, "money, money, money, and what money can make of life" but is also about human values. In the opening chapters a body is found in the Thames and identified as John Harmon, a young man recently returned to London to receive his inheritance. Were he alive, his father's will would require him to marry Bella Wilfer, a beautiful, mercenary girl whom he had never met. Instead, the money passes to the working-class Boffins, and the effects spread into various corners of London society. (Wikipedia) (32 hr 40 min)

Chapters

01 - Book 1 Chap. 01 ON THE LOOK OUT 11:13 Read by Don W. Jenkins
02 - Book 1 Chap. 02 THE MAN FROM SOMEWHERE 29:08 Read by Don W. Jenkins
03 - Book 1 Chap. 03 ANOTHER MAN 32:40 Read by Don W. Jenkins
04 - Book 1 Chap. 04 THE R. WILFER FAMILY 27:57 Read by Don W. Jenkins
05 - Book 1 Chap. 05 BOFFIN'S BOWER 39:55 Read by Don W. Jenkins
06 - Book 1 Chap. 06 CUT ADRIFT 35:56 Read by Don W. Jenkins
07 - Book 1 Chap. 07 MR WEGG LOOKS AFTER HIMSELF 22:24 Read by Don W. Jenkins
08 - Book 1 Chap. 08 MR BOFFIN IN CONSULTATION 32:26 Read by Don W. Jenkins
09 - Book 1 Chap. 09 MR AND MRS BOFFIN IN CONSULTATION 36:49 Read by Don W. Jenkins
10 - Book 1 Chap. 10 A MARRIAGE CONTRACT 34:45 Read by Don W. Jenkins
11 - Book 1 Chap. 11 PODSNAPPERY 40:48 Read by Don W. Jenkins
12 - Book 1 Chap. 12 THE SWEAT OF AN HONEST MAN'S BROW 37:00 Read by Don W. Jenkins
13 - Book 1 Chap. 13 TRACKING THE BIRD OF PREY 24:37 Read by Don W. Jenkins
14 - Book 1 Chap. 14 THE BIRD OF PREY BROUGHT DOWN 19:03 Read by Don W. Jenkins
15 - Book 1 Chap. 15 TWO NEW SERVANTS 34:18 Read by Don W. Jenkins
16 - Book 1 Chap. 16 MINDERS AND RE-MINDERS 38:29 Read by Don W. Jenkins
17 - Book 1 Chap. 17 A DISMAL SWAMP 13:53 Read by Don W. Jenkins
18 - Book 2 Chap. 01 OF AN EDUCATIONAL CHARACTER 44:29 Read by Don W. Jenkins
19 - Book 2 Chap. 02 STILL EDUCATIONAL 28:46 Read by Don W. Jenkins
20 - Book 2 Chap. 03 A PIECE OF WORK 28:18 Read by Don W. Jenkins
21 - Book 2 - Chap. 04 CUPID PROMPTED 33:05 Read by Don W. Jenkins
22 - Book 2 Chap. 05 MERCURY PROMPTING 35:39 Read by Don W. Jenkins
23 - Book 2 Chap. 06 A RIDDLE WITHOUT AN ANSWER 32:22 Read by Don W. Jenkins
24 - Book 2 Chap. 07 IN WHICH A FRIENDLY MOVE IS ORIGINATED 27:56 Read by Don W. Jenkins
25 - Book 2 Chap. 08 IN WHICH AN INNOCENT ELOPEMENT OCCURS 38:51 Read by Don W. Jenkins
26 - Book 2 Chap. 09 IN WHICH THE ORPHAN MAKES HIS WILL 19:51 Read by Don W. Jenkins
27 - Book 2 Chap. 10 A SUCCESSOR 15:31 Read by Don W. Jenkins
28 - Book 2 Chap. 11 SOME AFFAIRS OF THE HEART 30:20 Read by Don W. Jenkins
29 - Book 2 Chap. 12 MORE BIRDS OF PREY 35:12 Read by Don W. Jenkins
30 - Book 2 Chap. 13 A SOLO AND A DUETT 34:36 Read by Don W. Jenkins
31 - Book 2 Chap. 14 STRONG OF PURPOSE 29:59 Read by Don W. Jenkins
32 - Book 2 Chap. 15 THE WHOLE CASE SO FAR 36:07 Read by Don W. Jenkins
33 - Book 2 Chap. 16 AN ANNIVERSARY OCCASION 30:10 Read by Don W. Jenkins
34 - Book 3 Chap. 01 LODGERS IN QUEER STREET 30:10 Read by Don W. Jenkins
35 - Book 3 Chap. 02 A RESPECTED FRIEND IN A NEW ASPECT 23:29 Read by Don W. Jenkins
36 - Book 3 Chap. 03 THE SAME RESPECTED FRIEND IN MORE ASPECTS THAN ONE 15:36 Read by Don W. Jenkins
37 - Book 3 Chap. 04 A HAPPY RETURN OF THE DAY 30:55 Read by Don W. Jenkins
38 - Book 3 Chap. 05 THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN FALLS INTO BAD COMPANY 35:26 Read by Don W. Jenkins
39 - Book 3 Chap. 06 THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN FALLS INTO WORSE COMPANY 35:05 Read by Don W. Jenkins
40 - Book 3 Chap. 07 THE FRIENDLY MOVE TAKES UP A STRONG POSITION 28:13 Read by Don W. Jenkins
41 - Book 3 Chap. 08 THE END OF A LONG JOURNEY 27:25 Read by Don W. Jenkins
42 - Book 3 Chap. 09 SOMEBODY BECOMES THE SUBJECT OF A PREDICTION 39:40 Read by Don W. Jenkins
43 - Book 3 Chap. 10 SCOUTS OUT 31:50 Read by Don W. Jenkins
44 - Book 3 Chap. 11 IN THE DARK 23:36 Read by Don W. Jenkins
45 - Book 3 Chap. 12 MEANING MISCHIEF 20:35 Read by Don W. Jenkins
46 - Book 3 Chap. 13 GIVE A DOG A BAD NAME, AND HANG HIM 23:58 Read by Don W. Jenkins
47 - Book 3 Chap. 14 MR WEGG PREPARES A GRINDSTONE FOR MR BOFFIN'S NOSE 30:30 Read by Don W. Jenkins
48 - Book 3 Chap. 15 THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN AT HIS WORST 33:49 Read by Don W. Jenkins
49 - Book 3 Chap. 16 THE FEAST OF THE THREE HOBGOBLINS 35:04 Read by Don W. Jenkins
50 - Book 3 Chap. 17 A SOCIAL CHORUS 27:13 Read by Don W. Jenkins
51 - Book 4 Chap. 01 SETTING TRAPS 28:23 Read by Don W. Jenkins
52 - Book 4 Chap. 02 THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN RISES A LITTLE 23:25 Read by Don W. Jenkins
53 - Book 4 Chap. 03 THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN SINKS AGAIN 24:00 Read by Don W. Jenkins
54 - Book 4 Chap. 04 A RUNAWAY MATCH 24:09 Read by Don W. Jenkins
55 - Book 4 Chap. 05 CONCERNING THE MENDICANT'S BRIDE 40:12 Read by Don W. Jenkins
56 - Book 4 Chap. 06 A CRY FOR HELP 31:15 Read by Don W. Jenkins
57 - Book 4 Chap. 07 BETTER TO BE ABEL THAN CAIN 26:43 Read by Don W. Jenkins
58 - Book 4 Chap. 08 A FEW GRAINS OF PEPPER 24:40 Read by Don W. Jenkins
59 - Book 4 Chap. 09 TWO PLACES VACATED 26:58 Read by Don W. Jenkins
60 - Book 4 Chap. 10 THE DOLLS' DRESSMAKER DISCOVERS A WORD 16:57 Read by Don W. Jenkins
61 - Book 4 Chap. 11 EFFECT IS GIVEN TO THE DOLLS' DRESSMAKER'S DISCOVERY 28:46 Read by Don W. Jenkins
62 - Book 4 Chap. 12 THE PASSING SHADOW 31:55 Read by Don W. Jenkins
63 - Book 4 Chap. 13 SHOWING HOW THE GOLDEN DUSTMAN HELPED TO SCATTER DUST 24:29 Read by Don W. Jenkins
64 - Book 4 Chap. 14 CHECKMATE TO THE FRIENDLY MOVE 29:24 Read by Don W. Jenkins
65 - Book 4 Chap. 15 WHAT WAS CAUGHT IN THE TRAPS THAT WERE SET 27:30 Read by Don W. Jenkins
66 - Book 4 Chap. 16 PERSONS AND THINGS IN GENERAL 26:36 Read by Don W. Jenkins
67 - Book 4 Chap. 17 THE VOICE OF SOCIETY 13:49 Read by Don W. Jenkins
68 - POSTSCRIPT, IN LIEU OF PREFACE 6:08 Read by Don W. Jenkins

Reviews

Excellent reading of sophisticated Dickens tale


(4 stars)

This is the second time I've listened to this book and I see much more of the humor and love that Dickens had for his characters this time through. The contrasting couples and their contrasting relationships cover the waterfront and bring humor and joy for some, sadness and bitterness for others. Quite a painting of the best and worst of the marital state! This is the second reading of "Our Mutual Friend" in the Librivox catalog. Don turns in a excellent solo work - no accents or voices, just a solid American read that lets the story shine through. For those who would like a reading with British accents and a variety of voicing, check out the earlier group recording at <a href="http://librivox.org/our-mutual-friend-by-charles-dickens/" rel="nofollow">Our Mutual Friend</a>.


(5 stars)

A great, multi-strand story, not quite as sentimental as some of Dickens's other works. Many thanks to the reader for this marathon read! British readers may find American voices a bit difficult at first, but I'd say in this case, stick with it, because, as another reviewer says, Don W Jenkins 'let's the story shine through '. And I love the laid -back upbeat tone of his introductions to each chapter!