Sketches by Boz: Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.4 stars; 14 reviews)

Sketches by Boz is a collection of short pieces published by Charles Dickens in 1836 accompanied by illustrations by George Cruikshank. It consists of 56 passages divided into four sections: "Our Parish", "Scenes", "Characters", and "Tales". Of these, only the last contains fiction. (Summary by Wikipedia)

Chapters

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Our Parish 1: The Beadle, the Parish Engine, the Schoolmaster 15:13 Read by David Barnes
Our Parish 2: The Curate, the Old Lady, the Half-Pay Captain 16:45 Read by Peter Yearsley
Our Parish 3: The Four Sisters 13:21 Read by Peter Yearsley
Our Parish 4: The Election for Beadle 28:31 Read by Martin Geeson
Our Parish 5: The Broker's Man 23:26 Read by Ellis Christoff
Our Parish 6: The Ladies' Societies 15:38 Read by Peter Yearsley
Our Parish 7: Our Next-Door Neighbor 16:55 Read by Peter Yearsley
Scenes 1: The Streets, Morning 13:46 Read by Peter Yearsley
Scenes 2: The Streets, Night 13:46 Read by Peter Yearsley
Scenes 3: Shops and Their Tenants 18:18 Read by Martin Geeson
Scenes 4: Scotland-Yard 18:50 Read by Martin Geeson
Scenes 5: Seven Dials 11:55 Read by Peter Yearsley
Scenes 6: Meditations in Monmouth-Street 18:28 Read by hefyd
Scenes 7: Hackney-Coach Stands 10:52 Read by nihilist00
Scenes 8: Doctors' Commons 15:05 Read by hefyd
Scenes 9: London Recreations 13:41 Read by Eddie Winter
Scenes 10: The River 17:15 Read by Eddie Winter
Scenes 11: Astley's 17:41 Read by Eddie Winter
Scenes 12: Greenwich Fair 20:38 Read by Philippa
Scenes 13: Private Theatres 16:19 Read by Philippa
Scenes 14: Vauxhall-Gardens, by Day 13:20 Read by nihilist00
Scenes 15: Early Coaches 11:49 Read by Chris Hughes
Scenes 16: Omnibuses 10:23 Read by nihilist00
Scenes 17: The Last Driver & the First Omnibus Cad 24:50 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Scenes 18: A Parliamentary Sketch 27:55 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Scenes 19: Public Dinners 14:47 Read by Andy Minter (1934-2017)
Scenes 20: The First of May 23:49 Read by Ruth Golding
Scenes 21: Brokers' and Marine Store Shops 14:23 Read by miette
Scenes 22: Gin Shops 16:12 Read by miette
Scenes 23: Pawnbrokers' Shops 21:54 Read by miette
Scenes 24: Criminal Courts 11:46 Read by hefyd
Scenes 25: A Visit to Newgate 35:03 Read by MorganScorpion
Characters 1: Thoughts about People 12:38 Read by Justin Brett
Characters 2: A Christmas Dinner 15:08 Read by Ruth Golding
Characters 3: The New Year 15:49 Read by Ruth Golding
Characters 4: Miss Evans and the Eagle 12:55 Read by ravenotation
Characters 5: The Parlour Orator 14:33 Read by ravenotation
Characters 6: The Hospital Patient 11:00 Read by ravenotation
Characters 7: The Misplaced Attachment 15:43 Read by Tim Bulkeley (1948-2019)
Characters 8: The Mistaken Milliner 19:42 Read by Ruth Golding
Characters 9: The Dancing Academy 15:17 Read by MorganScorpion
Characters 10: Shabby-Genteel People 10:37 Read by MorganScorpion
Characters 11: Making a Night of It 22:14 Read by Martin Geeson
Characters 12: The Prisoners' Van 7:36 Read by MorganScorpion
Tales 1: The Boarding House, Part 1 38:09 Read by meyerli
Tales 1: The Boarding House, Part 2 48:44 Read by David Lazarus
Tales 2: Mr. Minns and His Cousin 28:04 Read by Ken Theriot
Tales 3: Sentiment 28:10 Read by Martin Clifton
Tales 4: The Tuggses at Ramsgate 1:00:01 Read by Ruth Golding
Tales 5: Horatio Sparkins 47:38 Read by Ruth Golding
Tales 6: The Black Veil 27:48 Read by Simon Evers
Tales 7: The Steam Excursion 1:04:22 Read by Ruth Golding
Tales 8: The Great Winglebury Duel 50:44 Read by Ruth Golding
Tales 9: Mrs. Joseph Porter 28:37 Read by Alison Aird
Tales 10: Mrs. Watkins Tottle, Part 1 32:01 Read by David Lazarus
Tales 10: Mrs. Watkins Tottle, Part 2a 41:03 Read by David Lazarus
Tales 10: Mrs. Watkins Tottle, Part 2b 14:38 Read by David Lazarus
Tales 11: The Bloomsbury Christening 36:32 Read by nihilist00
Tales 12: The Drunkard's Death 35:25 Read by Nicholas James Bridgewater

Reviews

Boz


(5 stars)

I love Mr Barnes reading voice! He sounds like a professional. Hope to hear more of him.

What a joy these are!


(5 stars)

Thanks, wonderful LibriVox, for another absorbing read. The readers easily put their hearts into it. Please be assured it is appreciated! These are to come back to again and again, like my favorite Twain essays.

Mostly very good readings, not Dickens’ best


(4 stars)