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The ‘Voice of the Year’ competition introduced and sponsored by Naxos AudioBooks and The Times books pages, edited by Erica Wagner, took place in Spring 2004. Readers without any formal drama training or professional acting experience were invited to send in recordings of a short extract of either Dickens, Austen or from The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and an own choice. The judging panel – Martin Jarvis, Juliet Stevenson, and Anton Lesser, with John Tydeman, David Timson, and Christina Hardyment (audiobook reviewer for The Times), under the chairmanship of Naxos AudioBooks’ managing director Nicolas Soames – chose the winner and finalists from nearly one thousand entries. First prize was to read a classic for Naxos AudioBooks. The winner was Maurice West, a fifty-five-year-old English teacher from Croydon. His chosen piece was from Tom Jones and he was invited to read an extended abridgement – 6-CD set – of the same novel. ‘We were very impressed by the natural storytelling talent shown by Mr West, with a strong narrative character, a sense of period style as well as a firm grasp of the many characters who appear,’ said Nicolas Soames. After graduating from Cambridge, Mr West applied to LAMDA on the main acting course and was accepted. Unfortunately, he didn’t have sufficient funds to take up the offer and had to confine his thespian interests to amateur dramatics. Now, later in life, he has a chance to open a new thread of activity. This 6 CD recording of Tom Jones is an important addition to the eighteenth-century audio library on Naxos AudioBooks.
Henry Fielding: The History of Tom Jones - A Foundling
In that part of the western division of this kingdom
Mr Allworthy had been absent a full quarter of a year in London
It was now the middle of May
Not otherwise than when a kite, tremendous bird
When Jenny appeared before him, Mr Allworthy took her into his study
Neither Mr Allworthy's house, nor his heart
It hath been observed, by wise men or women
Eight months after the celebration of the nuptials
There have been, in all ages and nations
Mrs Wilkins brought back such a confirmation
An affection placed on the understanding is, by many wise persons
We are obliged to bring our hero on the stage
Poor Jones spent a very melancholy night
The name of this gentleman
The reader may remember that Mr Allworthy gave Tom Jones
Jones was lately grown very intimate with Mr Western
The amiable Sophia was now in her eighteenth year
Now, though this young gentleman, Jones
Her mother first perceived the alteration in the shape of Molly
Just as Tom arrived at Mr Allworthy's outward gate
The reader will be pleased, I believe, to return with me to Sophia
Jones was ordered into a bed
If Jones could hope to find no bar to his happiness from the daughter
Molly remained a few moments in silence
The infidelity of Molly, which Jones had now discovered
Mr Western was become so fond of Jones
Neither Thwackum nor Square were much satisfied with their legacies
Jones retired from the company, into the fields
When he perceived the enemy's approach, leaped forth our hero
The rest of Mr Western's company were now come up
To Mr Western's house
Mr Allworthy had been engaged to dine with Mr Western
Sophia was in her chamber, reading
Mr Blifil soon arrived
Soon after Jones had left Mr Western, his sister came to him
Mr Allworthy was now retired from breakfast with his nephew
Jones was commanded to leave the house immediately
Sophia had passed the last twenty-four hours
Mrs Western had been engaged abroad all that day
The morning in which Mr Jones departed
Mrs Western proposed not only an immediate conclusion
Mrs Honour no sooner heard a piece of news
We left Mr Jones on his road to Bristol
As for the landlord, he was prevented by his fears
The other officers who marched with him were a French lieutenant
Jones endeavoured to close his eyes, but all in vain
The clock had now struck five when Jones awaked from a nap
In the morning Jones grew a little uneasy
Mr Jones and Partridge, or Little Benjamin
Jones presently ran to lift up the old gentleman
The day began to break, when Jones walked forth
Jones helped Northerton upon his legs
Mr Jones and his fair companion no sooner entered the town
A serjeant and a file of musqueteers
We think it no disparagement to our hero
The fair one, enraged at her frequent disappointments
While our lovers were entertaining themselves
Now the little trembling hare
The landlady, remembering that Susan had been the only person
The lady had no sooner laid herself on the pillow
Sophia (for it was she herself) lay reclining her lovely head on her hand
It was now past five in the morning
Jones having, at length, shaken Mr Western off
Before we proceed any further in our history
Sophia, having directed her guide to travel through bye-roads
Sophia now, at the desire of her cousin
At length we are once more come to our hero
Partridge began to prophesy
They were got about two miles beyond Barnet
From that figure which the Irish peer, who bought Sophia to town
To dissuade Sophia from the match was an endeavour of the same kind
Our company brought together in the morning
Mr Nightingale, having taken a turn or two with his companion
Jones grew still more and more impatient to see Sophia
Mr Jones was rather earlier than the time appointed
This point being cleared up
Jones had not been long gone
Jones was no sooner alone than he eagerly broke open his letter
The clock had now struck seven
As to Squire Western
We shalll now proceed to show by what method the squire discovered
Jones was certainly at this instant in one of the most disagreeable
Mr Nightingale came into Jones' room
After some hesitation, Jones, upon the strength of this assurance
We must now convey the reader to Mr Western's lodgings
By the means of Black George
The extraordinary tenderness which I have for my heroine
Love had taken too deep a root in the mind of Lord Fellamar
Mr Jones, at the appointed hour, attended on Mrs Fitzpatrick
The reader hath been already often informed of the jealous temper
Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller were just sat down to breakfast
Mrs Miller had not long left the room when Mr Western entered
Sophia's ill stars were not contented with all that she had suffered
Whether it was that Fortune was apprehensive lest Jones should sink
Mr Jones passed about twenty-four melancholy hours by himself
While Mr Jones was employed in these unpleasant meditations
Mr Allworthy, in talking with Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale
Allworthy recollected Partridge the moment he came into the room
"Mr Allworthy," says she
Allworthy was interrupted by the arrival of Mr Dowling
At length Mr Allworthy arrived at Mr Western's
"If this be your resolution," replied Allworthy
When Allworthy returned to his lodgings
Allworthy then acquainted Jones with the whole matter
Jones, being now completely dressed
At this instant Western, who had stood some time listening
In that part of the western division of this kingdom