Great Expectations (Version 3)

Written by Charles Dickens

Narrated by Mil Nicholson

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)

• Language: English
• Publisher: LibriVox
• Release date: Aug 25, 2014

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was an English writer and social critic. Regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era, Dickens had a prolific collection of works including fifteen novels, five novellas, and hundreds of short stories and articles. The term “cliffhanger endings” was created because of his practice of ending his serial short stories with drama and suspense. Dickens’ political and social beliefs heavily shaped his literary work. He argued against capitalist beliefs, and advocated for children’s rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens advocacy for such causes is apparent in his empathetic portrayal of lower classes in his famous works, such as The Christmas Carol and Hard Times.

Reviews for Great Expectations (Version 3)

[Alma Quillian · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

All I remembered of this book, was that I loved it . I had read it in high school. How wonderful to read it some 56 years later,with a deeper understanding of life's tragedies,joy, love and triumphs over adversity than I had upon my first reading and so beautifully expressed in Great Expectations.
Still,at 17, I must have appreciated the heart of it,to remember that I had loved it.
Alma Quillian

[Paul English · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Classic dickens. Surprise ending after endless plot twists. Reader is excellent. One of the best libravox recordings I’ve ever heard.