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Great Expectations
Considered by many to be Dickens's greatest work, this is a timeless story where vindictiveness and guilt clash with love and gratitude. Enriched by a cast of unforgettable characters, from the orphan Pip to the convict Magwitch and the bitter Miss Haversham.
96 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 7, 1998
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474 people want to read
About the author
Clare West
149 books55 followersClare West has over twenty years' TEFL classroom experience in the UK and overseas, and has led workshops for teachers in Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece, and Argentina. For most of her teaching career she was involved with long-stay students on Cambridge examination courses, and engaged in the development of strategies to improve students' reading and writing skills.
She is now a freelance author, with a special interest in the literary and cultural aspects of language learning. Current writing projects include contributing to the Oxford Bookworms Library and Dominoes series, writing supplementary materials such as grammar workbooks, as well as being the Series Editor for the Oxford Bookworms Playscripts series.
She is now a freelance author, with a special interest in the literary and cultural aspects of language learning. Current writing projects include contributing to the Oxford Bookworms Library and Dominoes series, writing supplementary materials such as grammar workbooks, as well as being the Series Editor for the Oxford Bookworms Playscripts series.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
January 25, 2015
"It is a great human weakness to wish to be the same as our friends. If they are rich, we wish to be rich. If they are poor, then we don't mind being equally poor. We are not ashamed of being stupid, we are only ashamed of being more stupid than our friends. It is a matter of comparison.
It is also a matter of expectation. We don't miss things that we never expected to have. We are not disappointed at being poor if we never expected to be rich."
Well said. Awesome book from the begining till the end.
It is also a matter of expectation. We don't miss things that we never expected to have. We are not disappointed at being poor if we never expected to be rich."
Well said. Awesome book from the begining till the end.
January 13, 2016
the best oxford book until nowwww!!!!!
yeaah actually i didnt like the main character, he is so lame, so stupid.
This book told me that we should be have great expectations but not sooo high, dont be weak with this life, remember who with you when you poor.
Like thiss book, want the full boook:(
yeaah actually i didnt like the main character, he is so lame, so stupid.
This book told me that we should be have great expectations but not sooo high, dont be weak with this life, remember who with you when you poor.
Like thiss book, want the full boook:(
September 16, 2025
A very interesting story that I loved.
March 24, 2024
I really liked this book (I didn't expect it) I used the intensive reading technique to read it. I intend to reread it at least 3 times.
May 28, 2017
The book is about a boy named Pip, although his actual name is Philip. He lives with his sister who is married to the blacksmith called Joe Gargery. He lives in Essex, a small village. His life is pretty bad since his sister is always mistreating him. One day it’s all about to change when Pip gets invited to Miss Havisham’s house. A rich old lady that is adopting a beautiful girl named Estella. Whom pip falls in love with. He suddenly is in possession of ‘great expectations’.
There are a lot of good things to say about this book. First of all, the book is quite easy to read. The sentences weren’t made too complex so that you didn’t have to read some things over again. You can read this book within a day because it doesn’t have a lot of pages and was easy to read. Another good thing about this book is that it has images in it. It makes it easier to imagine the characters in the story. A lot of things happened in the story which makes the book more interesting, it felt like you were reading a bigger book because of it.
No book is perfect and this one isn’t an exception. The thought process of all pip’s decisions weren’t described well enough, the characters themselves were described well, but not their thoughts. You were stuck with the questions why they did that sometimes. The book in my opinion went by too fast, the writer could’ve put more time into every scenario instead of going over a lot of scenarios. But it isn’t that big of a deal since the book has only 86 pages.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a quick read with an enjoyable story. Something you don’t hear me complain too much about.
There are a lot of good things to say about this book. First of all, the book is quite easy to read. The sentences weren’t made too complex so that you didn’t have to read some things over again. You can read this book within a day because it doesn’t have a lot of pages and was easy to read. Another good thing about this book is that it has images in it. It makes it easier to imagine the characters in the story. A lot of things happened in the story which makes the book more interesting, it felt like you were reading a bigger book because of it.
No book is perfect and this one isn’t an exception. The thought process of all pip’s decisions weren’t described well enough, the characters themselves were described well, but not their thoughts. You were stuck with the questions why they did that sometimes. The book in my opinion went by too fast, the writer could’ve put more time into every scenario instead of going over a lot of scenarios. But it isn’t that big of a deal since the book has only 86 pages.
I enjoyed reading this book, it was a quick read with an enjoyable story. Something you don’t hear me complain too much about.
January 23, 2015
2015 Reading Challenge: A BOOK A FRIEND RECOMMENDED
I think this is my first five-star rating of the year. The book was enjoyable and started in a great way. I love it when a book captures me in those first few sentences. I liked the story, even though one thing led to another in the most unusual way, having every character connected to one another where you didn't think it possible, it was still interesting and acceptable.
As a shorter and more simple version of "Great Expectations", this book was a very good read.
I think this is my first five-star rating of the year. The book was enjoyable and started in a great way. I love it when a book captures me in those first few sentences. I liked the story, even though one thing led to another in the most unusual way, having every character connected to one another where you didn't think it possible, it was still interesting and acceptable.
As a shorter and more simple version of "Great Expectations", this book was a very good read.
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August 6, 2019What a fool and superficial man.
Read
November 2, 2019This book is about a boy named Philip, but when he was younger he could only say Pip. He lived with his sister and her husband Joe, he was a blacksmith. He lives in a small village called Essex with them. His life is not great because his sister mistreats him but luckily Joe takes care of him. Pip meets a convict who threaten him. He had to give him food and a file and Pip could not tell anybody about him and that is what he did. One day he was invited to Miss Havisham’s house she was an old woman who was rich and she had a adopted daughter named Estella. She and Pip were good friends but Pip was in love with her. He wanted to be accepted by Estella, he wanted to become a gentleman and not a blacksmith like Joe. Later got Pip a big fortune by someone anonymous. Pip thought it was Miss Havisham, he thought she was helping him to become a gentleman and then marry Estella. He thought wrong, it was the convict who gave him the money. After he found that put he didn’t want his money anymore but still wanted to protect the convict because he started to care for him. So he tried to let him escape to another county but that failed and the convict got executed. after that he went to his village to ask for forgiveness because he didn’t treat his friends very well because he became very arrogant with them. And then at the end he and Estella became good friends.
I thought this book was not going to be good because I don’t really read that kind of genre but I actually really liked the book. The words were not that difficult to understand and the sentences were also not that complex, so it was easy to read. What I didn’t really like was that you didn’t know why they made the decisions so it left me sometimes with questions but overall it was a good book.
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October 10, 2019The book is about a boy named Philip but when he was young he only managed to say Pip, so that’s what everybody calls him. He lives with his sister and her fiance who is the blacksmith. his live is really hard because his sister isn’t really the easiest until one day. One day he get's invited to Miss Havisham’s house. she is a rich old lady who had a beautiful daughter named Estella. After a few meeting with them began Pip to feel more and more for Estella. At some point Pip doesn’t want to become a blacksmith because it reminds him of his abusive step brother Joe. But then everything get’s a turn when a lawyer says against Pip and Joe that he has great expectations with them.
Overall the book was really easy to read , of course there where some words I didn’t understand but the vocabulary list in the back helped with that. It also has a great storyline , the book has a good story to tell. But personally I don’t like it because it’s situated a while ago so there are some old characteristics.
If you like to read a little bit of history and you don’t get bored to fast I would really recommend this book.
Overall the book was really easy to read , of course there where some words I didn’t understand but the vocabulary list in the back helped with that. It also has a great storyline , the book has a good story to tell. But personally I don’t like it because it’s situated a while ago so there are some old characteristics.
If you like to read a little bit of history and you don’t get bored to fast I would really recommend this book.
November 10, 2018
The story was extremely good and so Dickensian, I really enjoyed it. Charles Dickens is one of the greatest English novelists, because his story could touch people heart and thought so much. Although this retold book is a bit fast at the end of the story, I think it would be a really great story, and I'll read the full edition in the future. This story is about a boy with his "great expectations", but also with a big heart and great kindness. I really love the characters in Charles Dickens, even Miss Havisham, Magwitch, Estella, they are a mixture of good and bad, they have mistake and failure, and they are just like a real human like us. I can't appreciate more with this story
September 14, 2017
In a gloomy , neglected house Miss Havisham sits as she has sat year after year in a wedding dress & veil that were once white and are now faded & yellow with age.
her face is like a death's head her dark eyes burns with bitterness & hate.by her side sits a proud and beautiful girl and in front of her trembling with fear in his thick country boots , stands young Pip.
Miss Havisham stares at Pip coldly & murmurs to the girl at her side :
"break his heart , Estella ,break his heart!"
her face is like a death's head her dark eyes burns with bitterness & hate.by her side sits a proud and beautiful girl and in front of her trembling with fear in his thick country boots , stands young Pip.
Miss Havisham stares at Pip coldly & murmurs to the girl at her side :
"break his heart , Estella ,break his heart!"
August 14, 2017
"It is a great weakness to wish to be the same as our friends. If they are rich, we wish to be rich. If they are poor, then we don't mind being equally poor. We are not ashamed of being stupid, we are only ashamed of being more stupid than our friends. It is a matter of comparison." I'm deeply in love with this book.
January 21, 2025
I already knew the great set pieces from this book from the film and general knowledge but didn't really understand the story and it themes. The atmosphere and characters do not disappoint and there is a poignant melancholy that beautifully pervades the tale. I got a bit bogged down after a hundred pages as Pip heads to London, but things picked up again with the last half of the book a delight.
February 4, 2020
This story is so incredible!!! It kept me awake many a late night and I don't regret any of them! Such a moving story!!!
April 13, 2021
Asco.
June 18, 2014
تلخيص رائع للرواية
بيفكرني بالمسلسل المبني ع الرواية من انتاج قناة البي بي سي
my link text
يمكنك تخيل جليان اندرسون وهي تقدم دور ميس هافيشام
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بيفكرني بالمسلسل المبني ع الرواية من انتاج قناة البي بي سي
my link text
يمكنك تخيل جليان اندرسون وهي تقدم دور ميس هافيشام
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June 4, 2017Philip was also called Pip, because when he was younger he coudn't say Philip but only Pip. So that was his new name. Pip, was an orphine child who lived with his abusive sister and her husband Joe. He had the village blacksmith.
On one day, his uncle Pumblechook, arranged with the wealthy Miss Havisham to play with her beautiful dauther Estella. Miss Havisham husband left on the day they would marry. On this day, she still weres her old wedding gown. Even when she is mutch older and in a wheelchair. Afther a while, Pip and Estella became good friends and Pip liked her more than normal. He was in love with her and would do anything to get her attention. After somme months, pays Miss Havisham Pip's study to become a blacksmith but Pip didn't want to be a blacksmith. The reason why he didn't want to become a blacksmith is that it reminds him back of his abusive step-brother Joe.
But then everything changes when a lawyer says against Pip en Joe that he has great expectations with them.
Persenol i didn't like the book because it took to long to say something. It was also hard to read the book because the genre of the book was not good for me. I like the storyline but i think he could have done better. He could make the actions a lot faster so it was more exciting to read.
I would recommend not to read this book.
On one day, his uncle Pumblechook, arranged with the wealthy Miss Havisham to play with her beautiful dauther Estella. Miss Havisham husband left on the day they would marry. On this day, she still weres her old wedding gown. Even when she is mutch older and in a wheelchair. Afther a while, Pip and Estella became good friends and Pip liked her more than normal. He was in love with her and would do anything to get her attention. After somme months, pays Miss Havisham Pip's study to become a blacksmith but Pip didn't want to be a blacksmith. The reason why he didn't want to become a blacksmith is that it reminds him back of his abusive step-brother Joe.
But then everything changes when a lawyer says against Pip en Joe that he has great expectations with them.
Persenol i didn't like the book because it took to long to say something. It was also hard to read the book because the genre of the book was not good for me. I like the storyline but i think he could have done better. He could make the actions a lot faster so it was more exciting to read.
I would recommend not to read this book.
July 22, 2024
Fue una lectura ligera y fácil de llevar, la verdad me sentí cómoda al leerla.
Viendo q es una adaptación de la novela original me encanta q no hallan descuidado el desarrollo y las características de los personajes, o la historia como tal, ya que incluso si fue reducida a menos de 100 páginas es fácil de comprender y hubieron partes q me tocaron el corazón.
Este libro deja mucho que pensar, habla de las diferencias en las clases sociales y de cómo la gente te trata dependiendo de la tuya, lo que alguien es capaz de hacer para poder ascender en estas y las consecuencias de sus actos, o como a veces uno puede estar tan cegado por ser "importante" q se olvida de aquellos q estuvieron siempre e incondicionalmente.
Sin embargo, siento que pudieron ocurrir algunos sucesos de manera distinta si no era por la conveniencia en estas escenas, pese a q fueron pocas.
En fin, queriendo darle una oportunidad a la novela original!
Viendo q es una adaptación de la novela original me encanta q no hallan descuidado el desarrollo y las características de los personajes, o la historia como tal, ya que incluso si fue reducida a menos de 100 páginas es fácil de comprender y hubieron partes q me tocaron el corazón.
Este libro deja mucho que pensar, habla de las diferencias en las clases sociales y de cómo la gente te trata dependiendo de la tuya, lo que alguien es capaz de hacer para poder ascender en estas y las consecuencias de sus actos, o como a veces uno puede estar tan cegado por ser "importante" q se olvida de aquellos q estuvieron siempre e incondicionalmente.
Sin embargo, siento que pudieron ocurrir algunos sucesos de manera distinta si no era por la conveniencia en estas escenas, pese a q fueron pocas.
En fin, queriendo darle una oportunidad a la novela original!
February 1, 2025
That was the novel I studied in both 7th and 12th grade. It has got a special place in my heart.The amount of critical thinking questions I answered made me understand the characters quite well. I think that the beauty of this novel lies in how it portrays human nature. Joe, the super selfless kind person. Pip who wants to feel appreciated and loved even if it's at the expense of his dignity. Clara, the amazing woman her lines were my absoulte fave. Miss Havisham, who is everything and nothing. Last, who is by no means the least Estella. She's such a controlling character. Overall, I think it's a nice novel that has lots of wisdom.
June 23, 2021
I am so happy that I’m finally DONE with this book.
Now, 1 Star was for the work out it, deserves a 0.5. I can’t wrap my mind around how boring this book was.
Charles’s Oliver Twist had the same affect on me, useless and too much details with no interesting plot but lives of fictional character he created.
Pip wasn’t interesting at all, I would take more from a book with a language I don’t understand than I did from this one.
Now, 1 Star was for the work out it, deserves a 0.5. I can’t wrap my mind around how boring this book was.
Charles’s Oliver Twist had the same affect on me, useless and too much details with no interesting plot but lives of fictional character he created.
Pip wasn’t interesting at all, I would take more from a book with a language I don’t understand than I did from this one.
January 30, 2024
This book is another short version from Oxford Press. In my opinion, at the beginning of the story, the story was very slow-paced as the characters were not that loveable. However, I like how the first part of the story worked as a base for the second adventure. As well, I was very surprised who sent him the money all the years and who actually was the father of Estella.
March 16, 2022
Better than the origin book!
January 25, 2023
No more lies, live well and die happy.
~Joe
~Joe
jóvenes
October 3, 20252 ejemplares
May 23, 2014
Pip is the main character of this book, who had lost his parents when he was young and raised by his elder sister and her husband, Joe Gargery. One day, Pip met a convict who threaten Pip to bring a file and some food. Pip gave these things to convict and he didn't tell anyone about a convict. Uncle Pumblechook introduced Pip to Miss Havisham and this visit has a great influence on his life. Miss Havisham was a poor woman who betrayed by her fiancé. Pip had a crush on Estella who is Miss Havisham's adopted daughter. Miss Havisham wanted to break men's heart through Estella. Perhaps, she wanted revenge to others instead of her fiance, and a victim was Pip. Estella made fun of his appearance and Pip wanted to be a gentleman. Later, Pip has inherited a fortune from anonymous benefactor and leave for London to be a gentleman. He received education and got a nice friend, Herbbert. Pip was getting selfish and arrogant. He ignored his true friends, Joe and be embarrassed his appearance. Pip thought anonymous benefactor was Miss Havisham. He thought she made Pip a gentleman to make him marry with Estella, but it was not. A convict, Magwitch was a benefactor and Pip was in shock about that. This was the climax of this story.Pip was ashamed of him, but he started to care him and decided to protect Magwitch from police with Herbbert. This escape failed and Magwitch died before his execution. All these events made Pip really sick. Joe came to London to nurse Pip, but he back to the village when Pip got better. Pip decided to go back to the village and asked forgiveness of his arrogant. The last scene of this book was reunion of Estella and Pip. Finally, they became a true friends to each other. Joe was a static character, but it was a really good static. I think the real gentleman is Joe. He refused when Mr Jagger tried to pay for lost his apprentice and he took care of Pip even Pip ignored and ashamed of him. The most important thing is that Pip inherited great expectation from Joe, a proper values and great, true love.
November 27, 2019
*WARNING - A RANT REWIEV AHEAD*
2,5 stars…
I love Charles Dickens' stories, but every time Oxford Bookworms try to adapt a book it ends up terrible. I honestly hope I will never have to read another adaptation. EVER.
And what's so wrong with it? Just imagine taking a book filled with deeper thoughts which delicately describes the character transformation and growing up of a boy who is also climbing the social ladder and cram it into 70 pages, where you can also find all the complex back-stories and a myriad of iconic characters. It's an impossible task, which turned out even worse than expected.
I can't say that I had great expectations for this shortened version, but I was still very disappointed.
I wouldn't complain so much if this book was targeted at kids of age 8 to 10, but it is not. It is supposed to be for students completing their FCEs - age 14 to your final hours.
So in conclusion let me just say:
Dear Oxford,
Please stop making your students read these adaptions. Just assign them the original. There are many good books easy to read which you do not have to rewrite. Have you ever heard of Animal Farm - it's the ideal book for students at B2 level and guess what, it has only 80 pages - just as your useless adaptions. Or if you do not like picking originals and simply want to rewrite books, just pick ones that are already horrible and do not have a important message and maybe you can make them a bit more tolerable. If you need a hint, I would suggest Twilight.
Sincerely,
Colca
2,5 stars…
I love Charles Dickens' stories, but every time Oxford Bookworms try to adapt a book it ends up terrible. I honestly hope I will never have to read another adaptation. EVER.
And what's so wrong with it? Just imagine taking a book filled with deeper thoughts which delicately describes the character transformation and growing up of a boy who is also climbing the social ladder and cram it into 70 pages, where you can also find all the complex back-stories and a myriad of iconic characters. It's an impossible task, which turned out even worse than expected.
I can't say that I had great expectations for this shortened version, but I was still very disappointed.
I wouldn't complain so much if this book was targeted at kids of age 8 to 10, but it is not. It is supposed to be for students completing their FCEs - age 14 to your final hours.
So in conclusion let me just say:
Dear Oxford,
Please stop making your students read these adaptions. Just assign them the original. There are many good books easy to read which you do not have to rewrite. Have you ever heard of Animal Farm - it's the ideal book for students at B2 level and guess what, it has only 80 pages - just as your useless adaptions. Or if you do not like picking originals and simply want to rewrite books, just pick ones that are already horrible and do not have a important message and maybe you can make them a bit more tolerable. If you need a hint, I would suggest Twilight.
Sincerely,
Colca
July 24, 2010
9. If you could ask any character a question, what would you ask? If you could ask the author a question, what might that be? Explain why you chose these questions.
I would ask a question to Pip why he always missed the opportunities which could make a really difference in his life. First of all, he didn’t behave correctly when Joe came to London to see him first time. Instead, he was ashamed of Joe who always helped and supported him when he had difficulties. If he didn’t forget where he came from, it would be better for him to show how a gentleman could be a polite and respectful to others at the same time. Secondly, he fell in love with Estella, and he just dreamed a wonderful future with her. He didn’t do something special to convince her. It could be an important obstruction that she was trained to be heartless against to man by Mrs. Havisham, however; Pip at least persuade her to marry with him. Even when he learned she will marry with another guy, he didn’t act anything to change her mind, and just accepted what will happen.
12. Are you puzzled or confused about anything in the story? What is it that confuses you, and why do you find it confusing?
Yes, I was somewhat confused especially in the last parts of the book. I didn’t understand why Pip tried not to take money from Abel Magwitch who Pip doesn’t know how he earned that money. On the other hand, he gave some of the convict’s money to Herbert to become a partner in his new business. Second, Pip solved the relationship between Abel Magwitch, Estella, and the housekeeper of Mr. Jaggers, but Jaggers didn’t find the connection even though he has more information about these people.
I would ask a question to Pip why he always missed the opportunities which could make a really difference in his life. First of all, he didn’t behave correctly when Joe came to London to see him first time. Instead, he was ashamed of Joe who always helped and supported him when he had difficulties. If he didn’t forget where he came from, it would be better for him to show how a gentleman could be a polite and respectful to others at the same time. Secondly, he fell in love with Estella, and he just dreamed a wonderful future with her. He didn’t do something special to convince her. It could be an important obstruction that she was trained to be heartless against to man by Mrs. Havisham, however; Pip at least persuade her to marry with him. Even when he learned she will marry with another guy, he didn’t act anything to change her mind, and just accepted what will happen.
12. Are you puzzled or confused about anything in the story? What is it that confuses you, and why do you find it confusing?
Yes, I was somewhat confused especially in the last parts of the book. I didn’t understand why Pip tried not to take money from Abel Magwitch who Pip doesn’t know how he earned that money. On the other hand, he gave some of the convict’s money to Herbert to become a partner in his new business. Second, Pip solved the relationship between Abel Magwitch, Estella, and the housekeeper of Mr. Jaggers, but Jaggers didn’t find the connection even though he has more information about these people.
April 3, 2017
Great story with a great life lesson:
Great expectations is the story of orphan boy Pip, living just outside of bleak, industrial age London. Pip is being raised by his cruel, older sister and her kind, but common husband, Joe. When he is very young, an escaped prisoner demands Pip’s help, and although he is recaptured and sent to Australia, the prisoner is grateful for Pip’s help and silence. Later, Pip is given the opportunity to visit the wealthy Lady Havisham for her entertainment, and meets and falls in love with Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter Estella. Miss Havisham has been jaded against all men since she was left at the altar on her wedding day. She raises the beautiful Estella to hate men as an act of revenge on the world. Eventually Pip’s service in her house is discontinued, and although Pip is apprenticed as a blacksmith, he dreams of becoming a gentleman worthy of Estella’s hand in marriage. One day, a lawyer visits from London and announces that an anonymous donor wishes to pay for Pip’s education, so he may receive an inheritance and fulfil his dream. Pip assumes that the anonymous donor is Miss Havisham and accepts the offer, leaving behind the two people who have really loved him. In London, Pip untangles the story of the past, involving his prisoner, Miss Havisham, and others. Each character misplaces longings and affections, and as a result are consumed by greed, lust, selfishness, or jealousy. Two main exceptions are Joe and Biddy, who both work hard, live honorably, and love the people in their life.
Great expectations is the story of orphan boy Pip, living just outside of bleak, industrial age London. Pip is being raised by his cruel, older sister and her kind, but common husband, Joe. When he is very young, an escaped prisoner demands Pip’s help, and although he is recaptured and sent to Australia, the prisoner is grateful for Pip’s help and silence. Later, Pip is given the opportunity to visit the wealthy Lady Havisham for her entertainment, and meets and falls in love with Miss Havisham’s adopted daughter Estella. Miss Havisham has been jaded against all men since she was left at the altar on her wedding day. She raises the beautiful Estella to hate men as an act of revenge on the world. Eventually Pip’s service in her house is discontinued, and although Pip is apprenticed as a blacksmith, he dreams of becoming a gentleman worthy of Estella’s hand in marriage. One day, a lawyer visits from London and announces that an anonymous donor wishes to pay for Pip’s education, so he may receive an inheritance and fulfil his dream. Pip assumes that the anonymous donor is Miss Havisham and accepts the offer, leaving behind the two people who have really loved him. In London, Pip untangles the story of the past, involving his prisoner, Miss Havisham, and others. Each character misplaces longings and affections, and as a result are consumed by greed, lust, selfishness, or jealousy. Two main exceptions are Joe and Biddy, who both work hard, live honorably, and love the people in their life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews