Great Expectations (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)

Description

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 telling Pip's story, Dickens traces a boy's path from a hardscrabble rural life to the teeming streets of 19th-century London, unfolding a gripping tale of crime and guilt, revenge and reward, and love and loss. Its compelling characters include Magwitch, the fearful and fearsome convict; Estella, whose beauty is excelled only by her haughtiness; and the embittered Miss Havisham, an eccentric jilted bride. Written in the last decade of Dickens' life, Great Expectations was praised widely and universally admired. It was his last great novel, and many critics believe it to be his finest. Readers and critics alike praised it for its masterful plot, which rises above the melodrama of some of his earlier works, and for its three-dimensional, psychologically realistic characters — characters much deeper and more interesting than the one-note caricatures of earlier novels. "In none of his other works," wrote the reviewer in the 1861 Atlantic , "does he evince a shrewder insight into real life, and a cheaper perception and knowledge of what is called the world ." To Swinburne, the novel was unparalleled in all of English fiction, with defects "as nearly imperceptible as spots on the sun or shadows on a sunlit sea." Shaw found it Dickens' "most completely perfect book." Now this inexpensive edition invites modern readers to savor this timeless masterpiece, teeming with colorful characters, unexpected plot twists, and Dickens' vivid rendering of the vast tapestry of mid-Victorian England. Review: this book comes highly recommended. I make this recommendation for people who would ... - If this review is integrated into reviews of other publisher versions, let it be known I have purchased the Dover Thrift Edition. If you are in need of a classic, this book comes highly recommended. I make this recommendation for people who would be interested in a book for it's great characterization. While reading the novel, I had a distinct feeling for each of the characters, often having unique voices simply by the form of their words. It is a story of a poor boy who becomes interested in acquiring class, acquires it (by chance, not effort) and then readjusts into a new life separate from his old one. In this story, we meet eccentric characters of the countryside, then become acquainted with the classier characters of the city. The narrator, Pip, is both likable, unlikable, and relatable because of his many flaws and aspirations. Much of the story is driven by love, though the subject of our narrator's love is often admitted not to deserve it. I found the first part of the novel comparable to a read of Huckleberry Finn because of young Pip's innocence and strong heart. When it got to the second part, it reads much like a Victorian version of Catcher in the Rye, because teenage Pip (self-aware and hard on him with it) often finds himself ashamed, embarrassed, and unhappy in a room with anyone--his lesser and higher companions. The third portion becomes unlike anything but itself, and is introduced precisely at the time that the story threatens to fizzle out. I found the third portion of the book to be the most suspenseful and ironic, where the moral point is fully uncovered. This book is not heavy with action, combat, or thrills, but with voice, irony, and layered interaction. This is the type of book that someone reads when they're looking to reflect on themselves for who they are and how they treat their old and new loyalties. Review: Must read. - This is a timeless classic which I would recommend to all ages. Some words have to be interpreted because it's part of UK linguistics and certain meanings of the story will not go well without a better understanding.