Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens and read by Dominic Cooper

Oliver Twist is a classic story. This is an abridged version of it, and lasts for 1 hour 10 minutes. I play it at night for my 6-year-old daughter as she goes to sleep. Here is her summary of the beginning of the story:

• Oliver's mum rose up from the hospital bed and put her lips on Oliver's forehead and died. Then the hospital person said, "she was a nice looking girl, where did she come from?" and a nurse said, "she came here last night, found lying in the street."
• Then Oliver was taken to a workhouse.
• Then the boys winked at Oliver while his next neighbour nudged him. He was desperate with hunger.
• "Please sir, I want some more."
• The man was a fat healthy man, but he turned pale.
• Then he made about £5 by selling Oliver.

Then her summary of the middle:

• Then when it was morning he decided to run away to London. It took him seven days and seven nights.
• The eighth day Oliver sat on a cold door step. Then a boy who passed him returned and said, "what's your out."
• Then Oliver said, "I've been walking for seven days and seven nights and I'm cold and hungry."
• The boy had manners like a man.
• Then the boy said, "You need grub, and you shall have it."
• Soon, Oliver learnt his new friend was Jack.
• Then Jack said, "I know a man who will give you money for nothing, and never ask for the change." Soon they walked to a shop, or a house that was owned by Fagin.
• Then Fagin asked if Oliver could pick a handkerchief out of his pocket without him feeling it like the other boys could.
• Then Fagin closed his eyes. And then Oliver took the handkerchief without Fagin feeling it and Fagin said, "Did you take it out? Did you take it out?"
• Then Oliver said, "It's here sir," in his hand.
• Then Fagin give Oliver a shilling. Then Oliver went to bed with Jack and the other boys.

After a few listens she liked this, and said it is better than her previous favourite from the series, Bill Nighy Reads The Wonderful Wizard of Oz because she likes the characters like Mr Brownlow and Bill Sykes, and she likes the voices of the characters, like when Fagin says, "Where is Oliver?"

(I got this Audio CD through Amazon Vine. It is listed HERE.)