Genre
Bildungsroman
A generous, shadowed classic about ambition and conscience.
Genre
Bildungsroman
Subgenre
Social fiction
Original publication
1861
Original publisher
Chapman and Hall
Pages
544
Format
Paperback, hardcover and ebook editions
Language
English
Setting
Kent marshes and London
ISBN
9780141439563
Original title
Great Expectations
Pip rises from poverty toward gentlemanly ambition, only to learn the cost of shame, desire, class and gratitude.
A rich Dickens recommendation for readers who want mystery, social mobility, moral growth and unforgettable side characters.
The novel moves from marshland terror to London aspiration with Dickens's gift for character and social contrast.
It works for readers who want an immersive coming-of-age story with mystery, guilt and emotional reckoning.
Recommended title