Set in Victorian London, "Great Expectations" introduces audiences to the orphaned boy Pip, who lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband, Joe. While out in the marshlands, Pip runs across a convict who has escaped from Newgate prison. The felon still has irons on his leg, and he needs a file and food to help him continue his escape, although his escape is short-lived.
Pip goes to work for an eccentric spinster who dresses entirely in white, Miss Havisham. The wealthy Miss Havisham wants Pip to be a friend and playmate to her niece, Estella. Pip thinks that Estella is beautiful, and she quickly wins Pip's heart. Estella is prideful, vain and shuns the affections of the young lad.
As the novel progresses, Pip's future comes into play, and an unknown benefactor helps Pip improve his lot and place in society. Full of twists and turns, mysterious, unknown entities and the romance that only a Victorian novel can bring, it is little wonder that this novel remains one of Dickens' most endearing creations.
Charles Dickens was born in 1812 in Portsea, England into a relatively well-to-do family, or at least they were at the time of Charles's birth. However, like Mr. Micawber in David Copperfield, Charles' father was not very good at managing his finances. As a result, he was placed in debtors' prison in London, a location that shows up in "Great Expectations" as Newgate prison. While his father was imprisoned, Charles was forced to work at a very young age in a factory, thus laying the groundwork for many experiences covered in some of his best-known novels.
Dickens gained considerable popularity both in England and in the United States. He made frequent tours to promote his works. Most of his novels were put out in serial form.
Most critics agree that "Great Expectations" is Dickens' best novel. "David Copperfield" remains a favorite, and "A Tale of Two Cities" is widely assigned in high schools despite its serious subject matter.
"I read this for the first time when I was in high school but I didn't really remember this book. I found this time through that the novel had so many themes that related to modern day life, like trying to fit in somewhere you don't feel like you belong, that aren't always as easily relateable in other Dickens novels. I felt like the book had a good flow to it, was easy and enjoyable to read, and that the story and the characters lacked maudlin sentimentality that Dickens frequently lets pervade his stories and particularly his female characters."
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Cheryl (4 out of 5 stars)