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Great Expectations

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( 861,796 ratings, 24,938 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens follows the journey of Pip, an orphan growing up in rural England. As he navigates through life, he encounters a series of challenges and transformations, aspiring to rise above his humble beginnings. Through encounters with mysterious benefactors and a cast of memorable characters, Pip confronts themes of wealth, class, and personal growth, ultimately seeking to understand his true identity and values.
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this classic tale if you're captivated by stories of personal growth and transformation. It follows a young boy's journey from humble beginnings to the complexities of adulthood, exploring themes of ambition, social class, and redemption. With richly drawn characters and an engaging plot, this timeless novel offers insights into human nature and society.

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Pip's life as an ordinary country boy is destined to be unexceptional until a chain of mysterious events lead him away from his humble origins and up the social ladder. Pip's desire to improve himself is matched only by his longing for the icy-hearted Estella, but secrets from the past impede his progress and he has many hard lessons to learn.

'In the little world in which children have their existence, whosever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice' Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Charles Dickens' stunning novel, which includes some of his most famous and memorable characters—Estella, Miss Havisham and the inimitable Pip.

Great Expectations follows Pip's life as an ordinary country boy, whose path seems destined to be unexceptional until a chain of mysterious events leads him away from his humble origins and up the social ladder.

His efforts to become a London gentleman bring him into contact not just with the upper classes but also with dangerous criminals.

Pip's desire to improve himself is matched only by his longing for the icy-hearted Estella, but secrets from the past impede his progress, and he has many hard lessons to learn.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The novel is celebrated for its intricate storytelling and vivid characterisation, with some reviewers highlighting Dickens's ability to bring even minor characters to life. Its exploration of themes such as social class and inner turmoil is notably praised, particularly in the chilling encounters like Magwitch's return. Admirers of Dickens often express a preference for revisiting his works due to their rich tradition and diverse narrative styles.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780099511571

Publisher: Vintage Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 03 January 2008

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Vintage Classics

Illustration: b/w illust

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 31.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 352g

Pages: 512

About the Author

Charles Dickens was born in Hampshire on February 7, 1812. His father was a clerk in the navy pay office, who was well paid but often ended up in financial troubles. When Dickens was twelve years old he was send to work in a shoe polish factory because his family had been taken to the debtors' prison. Fagin is named after a boy Dickens disliked at the factory. His career as a writer of fiction started in 1833 when his short stories and essays began to appear in periodicals. The Pickwick Papers, his first commercial success, was published in 1836. In the same year he married the daughter of his friend George Hogarth, Catherine Hogarth. The serialisation of Oliver Twist began in 1837 while The Pickwick Papers was still running. Many other novels followed and The Old Curiosity Shop brought Dickens international fame and he became a celebrity in America as well as Britain. He separated from his wife in 1858. Charles Dickens died on 9 June 1870, leaving his last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

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