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Great Expectations: A Retelling
Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman returns with a brilliantly realised and truly accessible retelling of the book described as Dickens’ “most perfect” novel.
My story is a long one with many strange events and dark turns. But time is short. I will be brief. In this slim volume I concentrate on five people. A dangerous criminal. An honest blacksmith. An abandoned bride. A girl who glittered like a distant star. And myself. Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, whose life was twisted and bent out of shape by all of them.
Orphaned as baby, Pip is raised by his sister to live the simple life of a blacksmith’s boy. But a chance encounter in a graveyard and a visit to a ruined mansion set him on a different path. When a secret benefactor pays for him to become a gentleman, Pip’s life takes a greatly unexpected turn…
My story is a long one with many strange events and dark turns. But time is short. I will be brief. In this slim volume I concentrate on five people. A dangerous criminal. An honest blacksmith. An abandoned bride. A girl who glittered like a distant star. And myself. Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, whose life was twisted and bent out of shape by all of them.
Orphaned as baby, Pip is raised by his sister to live the simple life of a blacksmith’s boy. But a chance encounter in a graveyard and a visit to a ruined mansion set him on a different path. When a secret benefactor pays for him to become a gentleman, Pip’s life takes a greatly unexpected turn…
120 pages, Paperback
Published December 17, 2024
About the author
Tanya Landman
76 books92 followersCarnegie Medal winning Tanya Landman is the author of more than thirty books for children and young adults.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
Born and brought up in Kent, Tanya had no intention of becoming a writer until the idea for Waking Merlin popped into her head. "It came from nowhere. It was completely out of the blue."
Tanya now lives and works in Bideford and the nearby coastline was the inspiration for her Flotsam & Jetsam series.
Tanya's first books were "adventure stories with a sprinkling of magic and spoonful of humour." But then Tanya turned to crime, writing Mondays are Murder (winner of a Red House Book Award) - the first in a series of ten "Agatha-Christie-for-kids" featuring child sleuth Poppy Fields and her friend Graham. Her new highly illustrated books for younger children feature Sam Swann, an accident-prone boy sleuth and his faithful canine sidekick Watson.
Although she writes across a broad age range, Tanya is probably best known for her historical novels for young adults. Apache - set in 19th century America - was shortlisted for several UK awards including the Teenage Book Trust and the Carnegie Medal (where it was voted the Shadowing Groups favourite). The US edition won a Borders Original Voices prize and a Spur award from the Western Writers of America. The Goldsmith's Daughter - set in the Aztec empire during the Spanish invasion - was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and the Guardian Children's Fiction prize. Buffalo Soldier won the 2015 Carnegie Medal. Hell and High Water - a swashbuckling thriller set in 18th century Devon - was shortlisted for the 2016 Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and nominated for the Carnegie Medal. Her latest book Beyond the Wall is set in Roman Britain. Passing for White comes out later this year.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2024
First sentence: My story is a long one. There are many twists and turns in my tale. Many people. Many events. All of these will slot together in the end like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. But time is short. I will be brief. In this slim volume, I will focus on five people. Two men. One honest; one a criminal. Two women. One heartbroken; one who had no heart to break. And myself: Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, who loved them all.
This book is a condensed/adapted retelling of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. It isn't just abridged. No words of Dickens remain--for better or worse. You are looking at a very stripped down, bare-bones basic retelling--no thrills, frills, or flavors. It doesn't elaborate enough to be helpful for students looking to pass tests or write essays. Though to be fair, it might get the job done if it is a multiple choice quiz. Maybe.
My background: I read Great Expectations once in high school--hated it; once in college--was indifferent; once as an adult decades later--loved it. While I can certainly relate to every single reader experience that hated it as assigned reading....the fact that it was assigned is not Dickens fault. I do think that this one takes some life experience and wisdom--some years behind you--to better appreciate the story. I don't think it's a good fit for assigned reading unless it is your goal to specifically turn generations against Charles Dickens. While not every adult will turn to Dickens for a good time, I do think that allowing readers the freedom to read Dickens of their own free will is best. Dickens has so many GREAT novels.
This book is a condensed/adapted retelling of Charles Dickens' Great Expectations. It isn't just abridged. No words of Dickens remain--for better or worse. You are looking at a very stripped down, bare-bones basic retelling--no thrills, frills, or flavors. It doesn't elaborate enough to be helpful for students looking to pass tests or write essays. Though to be fair, it might get the job done if it is a multiple choice quiz. Maybe.
My background: I read Great Expectations once in high school--hated it; once in college--was indifferent; once as an adult decades later--loved it. While I can certainly relate to every single reader experience that hated it as assigned reading....the fact that it was assigned is not Dickens fault. I do think that this one takes some life experience and wisdom--some years behind you--to better appreciate the story. I don't think it's a good fit for assigned reading unless it is your goal to specifically turn generations against Charles Dickens. While not every adult will turn to Dickens for a good time, I do think that allowing readers the freedom to read Dickens of their own free will is best. Dickens has so many GREAT novels.
September 23, 2024
I received a review copy from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. It has not affected my opinions.
I had to read GREAT EXPECTATIONS at school, and it's fair to say that this did not endear me to the tale. My general opinion of Dickens (having been forced to read a few other of his books) is that it's very obvious he was paid by the inch in a newspaper: the man never used one word when three dozen would do.
This retelling, therefore, is really useful as it strips everything back to the bare bones of the story. I found myself engaging so much more with this story and picking up points I'd missed before in the overall narrative. It's a very clear summary of the book that hones in on Pip's emotional state.
This retelling not only makes it clear just how much Miss Haversham is playing with people from the start but also explores Pip's tumult of emotions. It's told with a retrospective style that highlights how ungrateful and puffed up he gets, how dangerous his Great Expectations are. However, because he's looking back, you sympathise and understand why he's like this.
I had to read GREAT EXPECTATIONS at school, and it's fair to say that this did not endear me to the tale. My general opinion of Dickens (having been forced to read a few other of his books) is that it's very obvious he was paid by the inch in a newspaper: the man never used one word when three dozen would do.
This retelling, therefore, is really useful as it strips everything back to the bare bones of the story. I found myself engaging so much more with this story and picking up points I'd missed before in the overall narrative. It's a very clear summary of the book that hones in on Pip's emotional state.
This retelling not only makes it clear just how much Miss Haversham is playing with people from the start but also explores Pip's tumult of emotions. It's told with a retrospective style that highlights how ungrateful and puffed up he gets, how dangerous his Great Expectations are. However, because he's looking back, you sympathise and understand why he's like this.
July 31, 2025
3.5 stars
May 4, 2025
A very clear re-telling of this rather convoluted book. I have read Great Expectations twice and actually still couldn't remember anything from it other than Miss Havisham rotting away in her wedding dress in her bedroom with that cake - yeuch! And now after reading this I understand the plot and main themes clearly, great stuff. Landman manages to make Pip a more sympathetic character than the original as well. Now I am all set for the new Miss Havisham book that will be out soon!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews