Great Expectations (Dover Thrift Editions: Classic Novels)
Product ID: 2913929
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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: So true that the pain precedes the gain. - A wonderful examination of the twists and turns that we tread in life seeking the meaning of life and our part in it, and the painful lessons we must go through to achieve the fulfillment of our dreams. The old English and slang make the reading a bit difficult but please persist and the gift of a story well told will enrich your heart. Review: Classic - Great for teens and pre teens.
| Best Sellers Rank | #25,145 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #421 in Contemporary Literature & Fiction #722 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books) #1,104 in Classic Literature & Fiction |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 944 Reviews |
A**Z
So true that the pain precedes the gain.
A wonderful examination of the twists and turns that we tread in life seeking the meaning of life and our part in it, and the painful lessons we must go through to achieve the fulfillment of our dreams. The old English and slang make the reading a bit difficult but please persist and the gift of a story well told will enrich your heart.
D**E
Classic
Great for teens and pre teens.
S**R
value
best value for the money buy this one
A**N
Books
Loved the story, loved the boy named Pip. He’s very inspiring, because, he doesn’t become discouraged; even though he was under appreciated and hated by everyone in the book. He was always optimistic.
D**.
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.
Z**N
About a 10 year old, still gets an A.
Gets an A considering it was written about a 10 year old.
J**S
Charles Dickens ‘Great Expectations’
Once you read every word of Great Expectations it stays in your mind, a really worthwhile read. This edition makes reading easy, it is light to hold in your hands. The book arrived quickly and in clean condition.
A**R
Great work of art. This was Charles Dickens last book he wrote before passing away.
Read this I’m high school and currently my local library is under a remodel. Thought I trad this once again.
M**A
Una joya
Uno nunca, jamás falla con Dickens...y Grandes Esperanzas en versión original es algo, que si eres amante de la literatura anglosajona, debes leer.
M**A
Recomendado
Gran contenido, buena calidad, entrega rapida
A**Y
Good quality
Arrived well packaged and on time. Good quality, nicely bound. Being a Charles Dickens classic, there is nothing more to say that’s not already been said by critics who are far smarter than me.
A**X
Underrated Dickens
Didn’t know what to expect but ended up enjoying this even more than Tale of Two Cities. Highly recommend
M**.
2 Thumbs up!
This book is a classic, arrived in a timely manor and just as advertised.
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