A Bit of Brontës, a Dollop of Dickinson, an Offering of Austen: A Dab of Dickens, Book 2

by Elliot Engel

They are icons of the literary world whose soaring works have been discussed and analyzed in countless classrooms, homes, and pubs. Yet for most listeners, the living, breathing human beings behind the classics have remained unknown - until now. In this utterly captivating audiobook, Dr. Elliot Engel, a leading authority on the lives of great authors, illuminates the fascinating and flawed members of literature's elite. In lieu of stuffy biographical sketches, Engel provides fascinating anecdotes.

You'll never look at these literary giants the same way again.

Audible Audio

First published December 16, 2014

About the author

Published in both Great Britain and the US, Engel is the author of seven books including, A Dab of Dickens & A Touch of Twain: Literary Lives from Shakespeare's Old England to Frost's New England. His articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Newsweek. As one of the most sought after and beloved speakers on literature, his mini-lecture series on his favorite literary hero, Charles Dickens, appeared on PBS stations nationwide.

As a professor, Engel has taught courses at Duke University, NC State University, and University of North Carolina. For his scholarship and teaching, he has received North Carolina’s Adult Education Award and the Victorian Society Award of Merit.

Reviews

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This audiobook consists of three literary essays (mostly biographical) on the titular authors, and a lot of excerpts from audiobooks by the same authors.

The essays were fun and informative and reminded me of my days in college studying literature. If you've already studied the authors you probably won't find anything new, but still it was amusing and I picked up a few tidbits (Emily Brontë laughing maniacally at shocked reviews of Wuthering Heights on her deathbed is an image that I hope I will never forget). The lecturer was fairly engaging and I enjoyed listening to him.

I had mixed patience with the audiobook excerpts. The Austen excerpts were lengthy, but the narrators were superb, and of course, it's Austen. I'd forgotten how easy she was to read and how engaging her books are from the very beginning.

The Dickinson poems were read by a narrator with a British accent (Dickinson is American) and accompanied by background music, which I found exceedingly distracting and not at all in keeping with the whole idea of poetry—especially simple, sparse poetry like Dickinson's.

The extra narrator who did the little bits between sections I didn't care for at all; she was too breathy and would be better suited to romance, not scholarship, I think.

The total amount of new material here is very little, maybe around an hour for the essays; the rest is audiobook excerpts.

[MattandBetsy Nolan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book club format is either for the novice or the ardent fan. But, if you are a novice the commentator’s remarks are quite in-depth. If you’re an ardent fan you already have your own opinions. Who exactly benefits from this?

[Autumn Rybin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall is the best time to read poetry.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 Stars)

The book is informative. Lots of good narrators too.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed this book, I think the description was misleading. The book was long on biographical information and short on fascinating anecdotes. The remainder of the book was excerpts from the various works, read by an assortment of actors.