In 'Great Expectations,' the young orphan Pip dreams of rising above his humble beginnings, only to find himself entangled in a web of ambition and social class. After a mysterious benefactor transforms his life, Pip navigates thrilling adventures and painful revelations about love and loyalty. As he pursues the alluring Estella, he confronts the harsh realities of wealth, identity, and the true meaning of being a gentleman. Dickens paints a vivid portrait of Victorian society, blending humor and heartbreak in his exploration of personal growth. Will Pip's expectations lead to fulfillment or disillusionment?
By Charles Dickens
Published: 2015
""We need never be ashamed of our tears.""
Great Expectations is Charles Dickens's thirteenth novel and his penultimate (completed) novel; a bildungsroman which depicts the personal growth and personal development of an orphan nicknamed Pip. It is Dickens's second novel, after David Copperfield, to be fully narrated in the first person. The novel was first published as a serial in Dickens's weekly periodical All the Year Round, from 1 December 1860 to August 1861. In October 1861, Chapman and Hall published the novel in three volumes.It is set among marshes in Kent, and in London, in the early to mid-1800s, and contains some of Dickens' most memorable scenes, including the opening, in a graveyard, where the young Pip is accosted by the escaped convict, Abel Magwitch. Great Expectations is full of extreme imagery - poverty; prison ships and chains, and fights to the death - and has a colourful cast of characters who have entered popular culture. These include the eccentric Miss Havisham, the cold and beautiful Estella, and Joe, the kind and generous blacksmith. Dickens's themes include wealth and poverty, love and rejection, and the eventual triumph of good over evil. Great Expectations is popular both with readers and literary critics, and has been translated into many languages, and adapted numerous times into various media.Upon its release, Thomas Carlyle spoke disparagingly of "all that Pip's nonsense". Later, George Bernard Shaw praised the novel, as "All of one piece and consistently truthfull." Dickens felt Great Expectations was his best work, calling it "a very fine, new and grotesque idea".
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“"We need never be ashamed of our tears."”
Great Expectations
By Charles Dickens
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Charles Dickens was an English writer and social critic, born on February 7, 1812. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest novelists of the Victorian era, known for his memorable characters and vivid depictions of social issues. Some of his most notable works include 'A Christmas Carol,' 'Great Expectations,' 'Oliver Twist,' and 'David Copperfield.' Dickens's writing style is characterized by his rich storytelling, use of satire, and a focus on the struggles of the poor and working class. His ability to weave intricate narratives with humor and pathos has left an indelible mark on literature.
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