Charles Dickens
In this unflaggingly suspenseful story of aspirations and moral redemption, humble, orphaned Pip, a ward of his short-tempered older sister and her husband, Joe, is apprenticed to the dirty work of the forge but dares to dream of becoming a gentleman. And, indeed, it seems as though that dream is destined to come to pass — because one day, under sudden and enigmatic circumstances, he finds himself in possession of "great expectations." In
...5) Oliver Twist
The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a highly atmospheric tale of murder. Central to the plot is John Jasper: in public he is a man of integrity and benevolence; in private he is an opium addict....
7) Bleak House
Charles Dickens attained an astounding level of popular acclaim during his lifetime; Victorian audiences clamored for his traditional Christmastime stories every year. The tale A Message From the Sea is an example of one of Dickens' Christmas publications; although the nautical setting of the story is not what one would traditionally expect from a holiday publication, the themes of charity, good will, and rising above seemingly insurmountable
...Our Mutual Friend was Charles Dickens' last completed novel, and some believe his most sophisticated. A young man discovers that he must marry a mercenary young woman before he can claim his inheritance. He is on his way to do his father's bidding when a body discovered in the Thames is identified as his, and his inheritance passes instead to Boffins, a working class man. The effects are felt through all levels of society.
10) Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit grows up in the Marshalsea debtor's prison, where her father has been imprisoned ever since her birth. When Mr Dorrit's debt is excused, he is anxious to forget his inglorious past and be accepted back into the best circles of society. Dickens criticizes the hierarchical society which would demand such an impossible thing of a man, and also questions which class of their acquaintance are good people and true friends. When one of London's
...Renowned storyteller Charles Dickens takes on the historical novel in Barnaby Rudge, a gripping fictionalized account of the anti-Catholicism turmoil that rocked England in the late eighteenth century. The novel pairs Dickens' social insights into the "anti-papist" riots of 1780 with the quirky, closely observed characters that have won him a loyal following the world over.
Another entrant in his astoundingly popular series of Christmas parables, Dickens revisits many of the themes and plot devices he first explored in A Christmas Carol in The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain. This novella recounts the supernatural experiences of Professor Redlaw, who learns several life-changing lessons from a mysterious spirit.
Master of Victorian fiction Charles Dickens was at his best when comparing and contrasting different classes of society. In this imaginative short story, a traveling circus sets up shop in an affluent neighborhood. When the performers begin mingling with the community's bankers and businessmen, hijinks ensue.
Beautiful, honest Nell Trent lives with her devoted Grandfather in his Old Curiosity Shop, an enchanting shop of odds and ends. Desperate to make a better life for his Nell, Grandfather secretly gambles and gets deeply into debt with the unscrupulous Quilp. When what little money they have is lost in a game of cards, Quilp claims The Old Curiosity Shop as payment for the loans
Released in installments from 1840 to 1841, Charles Dicken's The
...Curl up with this heartwarming tale of redemption from the master of the happy ending, Charles Dickens. A great read at Christmas-time or whenever you could use some uplifting lighter fare, The Battle of Life is a fast-paced tale that you'll finish with a smile on your face and renewed faith in the inherent goodness of humanity.
Anyone who has ever read a novel by Charles Dickens is well aware of the author's keen interest in social issues, especially the detrimental effects of poverty. This volume of essays brings together some of Dickens' best non-fiction writing on social issues, carried out in the form of letters to the editor, op-ed pieces, and correspondence.
17) Dombey and Son
Charles Dickens' Dombey and Son tells the story of the wealthy owner of a shipping company, Paul Dombey, who dreams of having a son to carry on the family business. It deals with themes such as marriage for financial gain, cruelty towards children, family relationships, pride, arrogance, betrayal and the destructive effects of industrialization.
In 1857, Charles Dickens paired up with his close friend and fellow Victorian novelist Wilkie Collins to produce this interesting novella. Said to have been inspired by the Sepoy Mutiny of that year, the tale scrutinizes the moral impact of colonialism and lauds the bravery of a regiment of Marines tasked with the responsibility of protecting a community of British expats from an encroaching swarm of dangerous pirates.
The most gorgeously theatrical of all Dickens' novels, Nicholas Nickleby follows the delightful adventures of a hearty young hero in nineteenth-century England. Nicholas, a gentleman's son fallen upon hard times, must set out to make his way in the world. His journey is accompanied by some of the most swaggering scoundrels and unforgettable eccentrics in Dickens' pantheon.
From the dungeon-like Yorkshire boys' boarding school run by the cruel
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