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Great Expectations
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Great Expectations Paperback - 2014

by Charles Dickens


About this book

Great Expectations is a classic novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1861. It tells the story of Pip, a young orphan boy brought up by his abusive sister and her blacksmith husband in rural England. Pip dreams of becoming a gentleman and escaping poverty, but his life takes a dramatic turn when he receives a large fortune from an anonymous benefactor. As he rises in society, he becomes involved with a host of colorful characters, including the eccentric Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter Estella, and learns valuable lessons about love, loyalty, and the true meaning of happiness. The novel is considered one of Dickens' greatest works and a masterpiece of English literature.

From the publisher

CHARLES DICKENS was a brilliant and prolific writer, probably the most famous nineteenth-century English novelist. He was very successful during his lifetime and his books have never been out of print. The exciting plots and fantastic characters in his books have meant they have all been adapted (in some cases, many times over) for television or the big screen. Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812 in Portsmouth. He was one of eight children, and at first his family enjoyed a happy life in the countryside of Kent. But Dickens' father was not very good at managing his money, and when the family fell into financial difficulties they had to move to London. In Dickens' time people who could not pay their debts were sent to a kind of prison, and Dickens' father eventually ended up in one of these debtor's prisons, called the Marshalsea. Charles was forced to leave school and go to work in a 'blacking factory' where he pasted labels on to pots for many hours a day. Even though Charles was only twelve at this time, he understood that without education he would never escape the poverty that had so entrapped his family. Charles often used his childhood experiences in his books. Fortunately Charles was eventually sent back to school. He went to work as a lawyer's clerk, and then as a political reporter. In 1833 he began to publish short stories and essays in newspapers and magazines. His first book, The Pickwick Papers, was published in instalments in a monthly magazine, and was a roaring success. Even before this book was finished, Charles began writing another novel, Oliver Twist. Dickens died after a stroke on June 9, 1870, leaving his last novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished. He is buried in Westminster Abbey.

First Edition Identification

Great Expectations by Dickens was first published on 6 July 1861 in London by Chapman and Hall. It is considered not only the rarest and most valuable of Dickens's works, but arguably his greatest. Copies in the original cloth are particularly desirable.

Published in 3 volumes, the first edition of Great Expectations has the original publisher’s violet wavy-grain cloth binding with floral decoration in blind on covers and spines lettered in gilt.

Five impressions of the first edition were printed, each of the latter four with a new edition statement on the title page.

The first edition first issue of Great Expectations’ rarity has been attributed to the probable small binding-up of copies with the first title page, coupled with the fact that the first edition was almost entirely taken up by the libraries.


Details

  • Title Great Expectations
  • Author Charles Dickens
  • Binding Paperback
  • Edition Paperback
  • Pages 848
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Vintage Children's Classics
  • Date 2014-04-22
  • Illustrated Yes
  • Features Illustrated, Table of Contents
  • ISBN 9780099589181 / 0099589184
  • Weight 1.2 lbs (0.54 kg)
  • Dimensions 7.3 x 5 x 1.5 in (18.54 x 12.70 x 3.81 cm)
  • Ages 12 to UP years
  • Grade levels 7 - UP
  • Reading level 1150
  • Dewey Decimal Code FIC

About the author

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is considered one of the English language's greatest writers. His works include The Adventures of Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, and A Tale of Two Cities.
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Great Expectations (Vintage Children's Classics)

Great Expectations (Vintage Children's Classics)

by Dickens, Charles

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Great Expectations (Vintage Children's Classics)

Great Expectations (Vintage Children's Classics)

by Dickens, Charles

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GREAT EXPECTATIONS
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GREAT EXPECTATIONS

by DICKENS,CHARLES

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Great Expectations

by Dickens, Charles

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Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

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Great Expectations
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Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

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Great Expectations (Vintage Children's Classics)
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Great Expectations (Vintage Children's Classics)

by Dickens, Charles

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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