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Great Expectations (Wordsworth Classics) by Charles Dickens
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12.7k books31.5k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 10, 2024
"Break their hearts, my pride and hope, break their hearts and have no mercy!"
I read this book for the first time in high school and always said it was my favorite Dickens story. But a couple of years ago, I read David Copperfield and I just completed a re-read of Great Expectations, and now I can officially say Copperfield is my favorite and this novel is my second favorite. (I did not really like A Tale of Two Cities and Christmas Carol is in the third favorite place).
"I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all the success, take all the failure; in short, take me."
This story is wonderful and I adore it. There are so many twists and turns and so much action and dark romance. I especially love Miss Havisham as a psychological case study (so interesting)!
There are just a few places where the story dragged on for me (whereas in Copperfield, I loved every word on every page!) I really enjoyed Pip's character development by the end of the novel ❤️.
I listened to this one on audible, the version narrated by Simon Vance and loved his narration!
I read this book for the first time in high school and always said it was my favorite Dickens story. But a couple of years ago, I read David Copperfield and I just completed a re-read of Great Expectations, and now I can officially say Copperfield is my favorite and this novel is my second favorite. (I did not really like A Tale of Two Cities and Christmas Carol is in the third favorite place).
"I am what you have made me. Take all the praise, take all the blame; take all the success, take all the failure; in short, take me."
This story is wonderful and I adore it. There are so many twists and turns and so much action and dark romance. I especially love Miss Havisham as a psychological case study (so interesting)!
There are just a few places where the story dragged on for me (whereas in Copperfield, I loved every word on every page!) I really enjoyed Pip's character development by the end of the novel ❤️.
I listened to this one on audible, the version narrated by Simon Vance and loved his narration!
January 20, 2024
Maaan....what a book! What an extremely boring book! It took me like a month th to het to page 88....it is so slow, so monotonous. Really surprised because I like Dickens. But this...this is so doomy, rainy, cloudy, grey, dry..oh Lordy! And seems so irrelevant to today's life...
September 9, 2025
A poor orphan named Pip is pulled into a web of mystery, wealth, and heartbreak. He thinks he knows what he wants
but fortune and love have a way of ruining illusions. A story about class, ambition, and the ghosts we carry
but fortune and love have a way of ruining illusions. A story about class, ambition, and the ghosts we carry
March 31, 2024
It’s a great story, if a bit implausible by today’s standards. The twists and turns are mind boggling but it’s presented so well and so comically at times, that all is forgiven. Well worth a read!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews