Audiobook Sample
Listen to the sample to experience the story.
Please wait while we verify your browser...
- Title: Book of Snobs
- Author: William Thackeray
- Narrator: Various Readers
- Length: 07:23:00
- Version: Abridged
- Release Date: 01/01/2011
- Publisher: LibriVox
- Genre: Comedy, Satire & Parody
- ISBN13: SABFAB9780381
Let’s break this down: Thackeray’s “The Book of Snobs” isn’t just a relic of Victorian England – it’s a mirror we’re still holding up to our Instagram-perfect society. This LibriVox production, with its rotating cast of narrators, delivers the satire with all the subtlety of a well-timed eye roll (which, for 1846, was practically revolutionary).
Here’s what makes this interesting: listening to this multi-voiced performance feels like attending the very society gatherings Thackeray skewers. The cultural impact here is fascinating – I kept catching myself thinking about how Colonel Snobley would behave on LinkedIn or how the ‘Dining-out Snob’ would navigate influencer dinners. During my ‘Future of Stories’ podcast deep dive into Victorian satire, I realized how Thackeray’s taxonomy of social climbers predicted modern micro-celebrities chasing clout.
The rotating narrators create this wonderful texture – like switching between different gossipy acquaintances at a party. Some voices lean into the exaggerated poshness (perfect for the ‘University Snob’ chapter), while others deliver the author’s cutting observations with delicious dryness. It reminds me of that magical moment in my BookTok analysis of “Evelyn Hugo” where we discussed how vocal tone can amplify satire beyond what text alone achieves.
Now for the real tea: this free audiobook reveals how little social media has changed our snobbery – we’ve just swapped calling cards for follower counts. The ‘Dining-out Snob’ becomes the Instagram foodie, the ‘Military Snob’ transforms into the LinkedIn thought leader. Thackeray’s genius was recognizing these types as universal, and hearing them performed makes the connections even clearer.
Audio quality note: Being a volunteer production, some chapters have uneven sound levels – but honestly, that almost adds to the charm, like overhearing gossip at an actual Victorian salon. The collective narration approach actually serves the material well, with different voices highlighting different shades of pretension.
Compared to modern satires like “Brideshead Revisited” or even “Succession”, what stands out is Thackeray’s surgical precision in dissecting social anxiety. While the references are period-specific, the emotional core – that desperate need for validation through perceived status – rings painfully true in our digital age of curated personas.
Would I recommend? Absolutely – especially for:
1. History buffs who want to understand Victorian social dynamics
2. Satire lovers who enjoy seeing the roots of modern social commentary
3. Anyone who’s ever cringed at someone name-dropping on TikTok
Final thought: There’s something deliciously meta about listening to a free audiobook that mocks people who value things purely for their exclusivity. Thackeray would probably have something cutting to say about that.
Stay curious and keep questioning those social hierarchies,
Sophie
Sophie Bennett
