Great Expectations - BoundCovers

No cover — Charles Dickens: Great Expectations (EBook, 2016, LibriVox)

digital audio

English language

Published Jan. 14, 2016 by LibriVox.

(2 reviews)

In one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved stories, Philip Pirrip, known as “Pip”, narrates his own journey, from the hindsight of 50 years.

Pip grows up with his older sister after losing his parents at a very early age. His sister, a tough unloving woman, rules Pip and her gentle husband Joe with an iron hand. During Pip's 7th year, while playing in the marshes, he is accosted by an escaped criminal whom he decides to help by stealing food from his own home. But the convict is caught and returned to prison.

Miss Havisham, an eccentric, rich recluse, sends for Pip to come to her house to play with Estella, a haughty and rude girl about his age. Although Pip is ashamed of himself as a poor uneducated boy, he is fascinated by Estella. A few years later, he becomes apprenticed to Joe, a blacksmith, but dreams of becoming …

In one of Charles Dickens’ most beloved stories, Philip Pirrip, known as “Pip”, narrates his own journey, from the hindsight of 50 years.

Pip grows up with his older sister after losing his parents at a very early age. His sister, a tough unloving woman, rules Pip and her gentle husband Joe with an iron hand. During Pip's 7th year, while playing in the marshes, he is accosted by an escaped criminal whom he decides to help by stealing food from his own home. But the convict is caught and returned to prison.

Miss Havisham, an eccentric, rich recluse, sends for Pip to come to her house to play with Estella, a haughty and rude girl about his age. Although Pip is ashamed of himself as a poor uneducated boy, he is fascinated by Estella. A few years later, he becomes apprenticed to Joe, a blacksmith, but dreams of becoming rich and clever and marrying Estella. A stranger, Mr. Jaggers, arrives to inform him that he has come into a handsome property, and will be removed from his present home to be brought up as a gentleman. The benefactor is kept secret, but Pip is sure it must be Miss Havisham.

In London, he acquires a tutor, grand new clothes and the lifestyle he always wanted. However, life is complicated as a gentleman in society, and he finds himself very unhappy, as Estella remains indifferent to him, involved with someone else. Pip begins overspending his generous allowance, and worse, spurns his old friends. Then unexpected problems from his past arise, and begin to transform his attitude. (Summary by Mil Nicholson)

131 editions

Stephanie Jane reviewed Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (Penguin Classics)

A good coming of age novel

4 stars

I'm enjoying my new tradition of reading a Charles Dickens novel in the runup to Christmas. I've watched several film and TV adaptations of his works over the years, but had been put off attempting the novels themselves by their length and the density if Dickens prose. As it turns out though, his vivid characterisations and melodramatic plots do suit my reading style pretty well. I'm not sure I would want to attempt more than one a year, but at that level of engagement the books are enjoyable and should last me a good decade yet. My choice for this year, Great Expectations, features the unexpected and exciting events of a Christmas Day for young Pip near the beginning of the novel so put me into a seasonal spirit!

I had only a vague recollection of watching a black and white Great Expectations film as a child (probably the 1946 …

I'm enjoying my new tradition of reading a Charles Dickens novel in the runup to Christmas. I've watched several film and TV adaptations of his works over the years, but had been put off attempting the novels themselves by their length and the density if Dickens prose. As it turns out though, his vivid characterisations and melodramatic plots do suit my reading style pretty well. I'm not sure I would want to attempt more than one a year, but at that level of engagement the books are enjoyable and should last me a good decade yet. My choice for this year, Great Expectations, features the unexpected and exciting events of a Christmas Day for young Pip near the beginning of the novel so put me into a seasonal spirit!

I had only a vague recollection of watching a black and white Great Expectations film as a child (probably the 1946 one rerun on Sunday afternoon TV) so remembered images of scary Magwitch on the misty marshes, and bizarre Miss Havisham in her wedding dress. However very little of the actual plotline remained in my mind so the story I thought I would encounter was strikingly different to the one I have just read. This was a little confusing at times, but made for a better reading experience because I really didn't know what would happen next. I was struck by the number of convenient coincidences that drove the narrative, several of which raised my eyebrows, however I cannot fault Dickens' portrayal of memorable characters and distinctive settings.

Pip himself is an irritating little so-and-so, even more so once he begins to realise his Expectations, and Dickens' patronising attitude towards women did grate on me from time to time. Those aspects aside though, I loved Wemmick's Castle and our glimpses of his life there with Aged Parent. Pumblechook is fun too and I felt sorry for both Estella and Miss Havisham. I could picture lots of the London settings as well as the bleak marshes and I frequently chuckled at Dickens' mentions of etiquette and behaviours. He had a great talent for slipping sharply observed detail into scenes. If only he could have held back on his sentimental speechifying! Overall though, Great Expectations is a good coming of age novel that I felt has stood the test of time exceptionally well.

Will Sargent

rated it

June 9, 2009