A House to Let


Read by Ruth Golding

(4.5 stars; 324 reviews)

A House to Let is a short story originally published in 1858 in the Christmas edition of Dickens' Household Words magazine. Each of the contributors wrote a chapter (stories within a story, or, in the case of Adelaide Anne Procter, poetry) and the story was edited by Dickens, who also wrote the first and last chapters with Wilkie Collins.

The plot concerns an elderly woman, Sophonisba, who notices signs of life in a supposedly empty dilapidated house (the eponymous "House to Let") opposite her own, and employs the efforts of an elderly admirer, Jabez Jarber, and her servant, Trottle, to discover what is happening within. (Summary by Ruth Golding and Wikipedia) (4 hr 12 min)

Chapters

Over the Way 37:31 Read by Ruth Golding
The Manchester Marriage Part 1 31:54 Read by Ruth Golding
The Manchester Marriage Part 2 51:43 Read by Ruth Golding
Going into Society 38:14 Read by Ruth Golding
Three Evenings in the House 21:17 Read by Ruth Golding
Trottle's Report 39:15 Read by Ruth Golding
Let at Last 32:10 Read by Ruth Golding

Reviews


(5 stars)

I am certain that Ruth could read the telephone directory and make it sound interesting. Not that such comment should detract from General appreciation of the story. Interesting tale lovely sentimental ending and excellent characterisation brought to life by this first class reader. I am partially sighted and miss the ease with which I used to read myself. Ruth, you have helped to keep literature alive for me for which I send a big thank you.

Great Story and Fantastic "reading" by Ruth Golding


(5 stars)

Ruth has such a fantastic way in which she narrates the story... with great expressions, and different voices for each character that anyone listening actually feels transported in the midst of the characters!! Nowadays I don't hunt the database for interesting stories, I search for stories Ruth has narrated and pick from them!! Thanks for the wonderful narration Ruth!! Of course, being a Charles Dickens story, the story per say is very interesting too, a couple of chapters seem to be off tangent, maybe to accommodate the four authors, but nevertheless it's a great story!

Ruth Golding British Actress Sings this Story Alive!


(5 stars)

Charles Dickens would have raved at the reading by Ruth Golding had he lived another 140 years or so longer ;)

Delightful little story


(3.5 stars)

So charming and unexpected. The reader Ruth Golding does a wonderful job of bring the story to life.

Didn't think much of it at 1st but then...


(4.5 stars)

The beginning of this tale just sounded like a word 4 word retelling of any house to let at the time of writing until a particular phrase was spoken. 'My horse has an empty spot next to it for your horse.' Knowing that neither of them owned a stallion or a mare for that matter, I suddenly realised that Mr Chadwick wasn't referring to to our fine 4 legged equestrian friends at all, but to an offer of marriage. How business like & unromantic can you get! Then, when her original husband barges in after spending so much time tanning himself on a desert island, I thought the 2 men would come to blows in either a duel or at least a 10 round boxing match. Suffice to say that my interest piqued quite suddenly from his unique way with words, with as much feeling as a rock in a very hard place. 10 points to the reader...exceptional quality & control. Miss Ruth certainly did the trick in her interpretation of the different characters within this memorable account.

wonderful hidden gem .


(5 stars)

one of the reviewers called Ruth golding a voice actor . this is a great way to describe her . she has taken an excellent book and not just read it she has given life and form to each character. now I will find her other readings and listen to them. many thanks to Charles Dickens and Ruth Golding for a terrific performance.

Mixed review


(3 stars)

This book is a collaboration of stories joined together by the main character. Each section has a different author, and the styles of writing change from section to section. I think that is why I wasn't as pleased by this story as the other reviewers were. Some of the sections were difficult to follow, others were excellent. Overall, this is an okay book. The reader was excellent and has a great reading voice. She did a nice job. I just found the story difficult to get into.


(3 stars)

Excellent very skilled reader. The first chapter and the last two chapters were the most essential chapters in the entire story. The middle three chapters were about other people who had absolutely no relevance to any of the other chapters nor to one another. The middle three chapters could be completely omitted and the overall book would then have been a five star short story.