Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - August 2009

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Great Expectations by Charles Dickens - August 2009

Post by Clare Bookclub Mod » Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:17 am

The central character, Pip, lives with his spiteful sister and her kind blacksmith husband Joe. Pip, an orphan growing up in harsh conditions, smuggles food to an escaped convict, as much out of fear as kindness. Later, he is summoned by an eccentric old woman called Miss Havisham, who had been jilted on her wedding day. There, he meets her ward, Estella. Though Estella teases and torments Pip he falls hopelessly in love with her.
After an unknown benefactor makes Pip a wealthy gentleman his life is changed. Assuming that Miss Havisham is providing the funds, he lives as a rich man in London. However, a startling discovery awaits him and, gradually, Pip learns what a true gentleman is and who his real friends are.

This novel was written in weekly episodes from December 1860 to August 1861. Because it was created to be a serial, each installment has a variety of characters, wonderful dialogues, detailed descriptions and a lot of action, moving the plot along and leaving the reader waiting for more. It is an excellent and enriching read.

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