Book info

• Title Great Expectations
• Author Charles Dickens
• Year 1860
• Genre Classic

Great Expectations charts the progress of Pip from childhood through often painful experiences to adulthood, as he moves from the Kent marshes to busy, commercial London, encountering a variety of extraordinary characters ranging from Magwitch, the escaped convict, to Miss Havisham, locked up with her unhappy past and living with her ward, the arrogant, beautiful Estella. Pip must discover his true self, and his own set of values and priorities. Whether such values allow one to prosper in the complex world of early Victorian England is the major question posed by Great Expectations, one of Dickens's most fascinating, and disturbing, novels.

Thoughts

I have a love/hate relationship with Charles Dickens, but this one was a book I loved. It was different in style to many of the Dickens books I have read so far, much more concise, far less of a sprawling work. The story was interesting, and although it did follow a character through much of their life, it felt a lot more focused and structured.

The pictures painted of some of the characters were fantastic, I have heard of Miss Haversham in passing but now have such a vivid image of her in my mind. Terrifying Orlick, the lovely, lovely Joe, and loyal Herbert, they really grew on me as I went along.

Enjoyed this one immensely, and think it has gone straight towards the top of my list of favourite Dickens’ books.

Rating: 4 / 5