Great Expectations (Illustrated with Original Commentary)

Charles Dickens needs no formal introduction, having been the most popular English writer of the 19th century and still one of the most popular writers in history today. By the time he died at the relatively young age of 58 from a stroke, he was already Europe’s most famous writer. His obituary noted that Dickens was a “sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed.” Dickens was even interred in Westminster Abbey, a rare honor bestowed only among the greatest and most accomplished Britons.

Many of Dickens’ novels were written with the concept of social reform in mind, and Dickens’ work was often praised for its realism, comic genius and unique personalities. At the same time, however, Dickens’ ability as a writer was nearly unrivaled, with his ability to write in prose unquestioned and unmatched.

One of his most famous novels is Great Expectations, widely considered one of the West’s best classics and still acted out hundreds of times across the world each year. First published in serial form in 1860-1, the novel is written in the first person from the point of view of Pip, an orphan. Pip encounters several different kinds of people of all classes, and he gets himself in and out of hairy situations, touching on themes such as ambition, crime, and social class. Of course, Pip’s encounters are inspired by Charles Dickens’ own experiences and observations of the people and the world around him in 19th century London.

This edition of Great Expectations is specially formatted with a Table of Contents and includes over 15 images of the novel’s characters.