A Child of the Jago
Arthur Morrison
Read by Algy Pug
A Child of the Jago immerses listeners in the gritty reality of London's East End during the late 19th century. Through the eyes of its young protagonist, the novel explores the harsh conditions of life in the Old Nichol Street Rookery, where violence and poverty are woven into the fabric of daily existence.
Arthur Morrison's vivid storytelling captures the struggles of those living on the margins of society, revealing the impact of their environment on their choices and futures. The narrative delves into themes of survival, community, and the often brutal realities faced by the impoverished.
As a cornerstone of social realism, Morrison's work stands out for its unflinching portrayal of urban life, making it a significant contribution to literature that seeks to understand the human condition amidst adversity.
Chapters
Select a chapter to play
| Part 0: Title page and preface | 17:04 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 1: Sections 1 - 6 | 1:12:05 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 2: Sections 7 - 12 | 58:48 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 3: Sections 13 - 16 | 54:52 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 4: Sections 17 - 22 | 55:40 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 5: Sections 23 - 28 | 49:15 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 6: Sections 29 - 33 | 49:23 | Read by Algy Pug | |
| Part 7: Sections 34 - 37 | 23:10 | Read by Algy Pug |
Reviews
Narrator
stbalbach
Mr. Pug, you have a wonderful sounding voice. It's thus unfortunate whenever a character speaks in dialogue, you switch to a high pitch screech. Not only is it grating to the ear, it's very difficult to understand what's being said. Professional voice actors don't do that, they read dialogue in their normal vocal range, even when it's a child or woman speaking. It's like a bass trying to sing as a soprano, it doesn't work. I hope you'll revisit this book someday and consider redoing the dialogue in your natural octave range. Please take this as constructive criticism, it is not mean spirited, I hope to listen to other works in the future.
Rookery review
samantha12
Thanks for doing this. I do agree slightly with the above reviewer about the dialogue parts as I occasionally had difficulty understanding what the characters were saying. In defense, you've definitely captured the atmosphere of an alien environment where people are deranged by poverty.