Eddie Izzard Has Recorded an Audiobook of Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations,' Despite the Fact He's Dyslexic.

The famed British comedian and actor, Eddie Izzard, recently discovered that he shared the same birthday as the famed novelist Charles Dickens, though the two artists are separated by 150 years. Despite the fact that Izzard struggles with dyslexia, he has recorded an audiobook of Great Expectations and it’s set to be available to download and listen to on June 28 for only 99p on Amazon.

“I’m exactly 150 years younger than Dickens to the day,” said the veteran stand up comic. “7th February 1812, 7th February 1962. Doesn’t mean anything, but it means slightly more than being 147 years and 12 days.”

Izzard struggled with dyslexia from an early age, though he didn’t realise he had dyslexia until, after performing stand up at the age of 30, a member of the audience told him he talked about things in a “dyslexic way.” The audiobook has been published by Wildfire. Publishing director Alex Clarke said to The Bookseller: “Eddie has brought all the enthusiasm, dedication and spirit to this reading that you would expect.”

For those who can’t wait to listen to Izzard’s dulcet tones narrating the famed book, then you can check out an interview with him regarding the recording via the BBC. Izzard explained that he feels a certain kinship to Dickens and the character of Pip. Izzard’s mother died when he was just six-years-old and the book’s protagonist Pip is an orphan of only seven. Izzard also published a memoir last year named Believe Me: A Memoir of Love, Death and Jazz Chickens.