Toby Tyler or Ten Weeks with a Circus


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.2 stars; 7 reviews)

Toby Tyler tells the story of a ten year-old orphan who runs away from a foster home to join the traveling circus only to discover his new employer is a cruel taskmaster. The difference between the romance of the circus from the outside and the reality as seen from the inside is graphically depicted. Toby's friend, Mr. Stubbs the chimpanzee, reinforces the consequences of what happens when one follows one's natural instincts rather than one's intellect and conscience, a central theme of the novel. (Summary from Wikipedia) (5 hr 15 min)

Chapters

01 - Toby's Introduction to the Circus 10:37 Read by Patti Cunningham
02 - Toby Runs Away From Home 13:52 Read by Tom Lennon
03 - The Night Ride 11:45 Read by Doug Hanna
04 - The First Day With the Circus 14:54 Read by JimOCR
05 - The Counterfeit Ten-Cent Piece 12:34 Read by Arne Larsen
06 - A Tender-Hearted Skeleton 16:15 Read by Linette Geisel
07 - An Accident and it's Consequences 13:14 Read by garyday
08 - Capture of the Monkeys 12:49 Read by Ted Nugent
09 - The Dinner-Party 20:12 Read by Kenneth Sergeant Gaghan
10 - Mr. Stubb's at a Party 16:20 Read by Kenneth Sergeant Gaghan
11 - A Stormy Night 12:58 Read by Diana Fast
12 - Toby's Great Misfortune 17:00 Read by Kenneth Sergeant Gaghan
13 - Toby Attempts to Resign His Situation 17:56 Read by Denny Sayers (d. 2015)
14 - Mr. Castle Teaches Toby to Ride 19:53 Read by JimOCR
15 - Toby's Friends Present Him With a Costume 14:12 Read by MCarmer
16 - Toby's First Appearance in the Ring 17:05 Read by JimOCR
17 - Off For Home! 22:45 Read by JimOCR
18 - A Day of Freedom 16:13 Read by JimOCR
19 - Mr. Stubb's Mischief, and His Sad Fate 16:56 Read by JimOCR
20 - Home and Uncle Daniel 17:34 Read by JimOCR

Reviews

Engaging story


(4 stars)

I enjoyed this, although it’s a rather sad story, and at times it was difficult to listen to the abuse poor Toby suffered. Most of the readers were good and their efforts are appreciated.