Great Expectations

Written by Charles Dickens and Clare West

Narrated by Multiple Narrators

In a gloomy, neglected house Miss Havisham sits, as she has sat year after year, in a wedding dress and veil that were once white, and are now faded and yellow with age. Her face is like a death's head; her dark eyes burn with bitterness and hate. By her side sits a proud and beautiful girl, and in front of her, trembling with fear in his thick country boots, stands young Pip. Miss Havisham stares at Pip coldly, and murmurs to the girl at her side: 'Break his heart, Estella. Break his heart!'

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2007
• ISBN: 9780194209793

Charles Dickens

Charles Dickens (1812-1870) was one of England's greatest writers. Best known for his classic serialized novels, such as Oliver Twist, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations, Dickens wrote about the London he lived in, the conditions of the poor, and the growing tensions between the classes. He achieved critical and popular international success in his lifetime and was honored with burial in Westminster Abbey.

Reviews for Great Expectations

[bookomaniac-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Aanvankelijk zeer trage start; breedvoerig en zonder dat duidelijk is waar het verhaal heen wil. Het middelste derde is gevarieerder omdat het zich in Londen afspeelt en verschillende nieuwe personages introduceert. Het laatste derde heeft meer weg van een detectiveverhaal, maar dat gaat ten koste van de psychologische diepgang. Thema: ontrouw ten aanzien van afkomst en vrienden; de waan van geldGlobaal: interessant thema, toch mislukte roman vanwege trage opbouw en gebrek aan humor.

[engpunk77 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I read this in 9th grade, and then had to read it again in college (why, I can't imagine). This was one of those books that didn't change AT ALL with my maturity--there simply isn't any more substance and meaning to extract from Dickens with age or change in perspective. He's all PLOT. I could get the exact same pleasure watching the movie, and I can't say that for any other novel I've ever read. Dickens is overrated.

[jmoncton_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story and John Lee is the perfect narrator for this book. I would have given it 5 stars, but when you are paid by the word, as Dickens was, the stories can sometimes be a bit loooooooong.

[comfypants · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A poor boy is promised to inherit a fortune.4/4 (Great).Pip is usually unsympathetic, but there are enough lovable secondary characters, and enough twists and suspense, to keep the book enjoyable, and to make a lasting impression.

[bookwyrmm_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I had little expectations going into this and it was just as I expected. Dickens's novels are just too wordy to keep my interest.

[laphenix · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Doesn't get better with time. This book was dense and dry even outside the educational setting. The endearing characters are swept aside, and the bland and tiresome brought to the forefront.

[hoosgracie · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book by Dickens I have read/listened to. I actually decided to listen to it because of love Miss Havisham's character from the Jasper Fforde Thursday Next series. Overall, I enjoyed the story of Pip and his rise and fall from Great Expectations.

[goddesspt2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I have seen several TV productions of A Christmas Carol — the George C. Scott version as a child and the Patrick Stewart version more recently — I had never read Dickens’ book. When you hear the phrases “Bah Humbug” and “to be a Scrooge,” most people know the origin and meanings behind the words. They have become part of our lexicon. After the reading Dickens’ prose, I felt more sympathetic to Scrooge and understood how his lonely childhood led to his grouchy demeanor. As the ghosts of Christmas past, present, and future show him his life and what could be, you slowly see Scrooge’s crustiness melt away as he becomes a better person. A timeless story of redemption.

[jlsimon7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Having watched the movies based on this book since I was a child this book was purchased in order to read it to my children. It is of course a classic for a reason. The characters are engaging, the story absorbing, and it is in every way Charles Dickens.

[orix_bluewave · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I think everyone has heard the title and read this book.So I need not introduce the story.I have read this book in Japanese.But in English, there is another impression.I felt how wonderful to love people!And I hope scrooge will become a kind person.

[jfoster_sf · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This was so much fun to read, especially after watching Mickey's A Christmas Carol so many times I know it by heart=) I'm sure everyone knows the story, so I"ll just say that its one of those books everyone should read, and everyone will love.

[scott_hercher · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Arguably my favorite book. It is a friendship that is renewed every year at Christmas time, like putting a cherished sentimental ornament on a Christmas tree, or having lunch with an old friend you only see once a year.

[daniel5estes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I first read Charles Dickens' version of "A Christmas Carol" in my 7th grade English class. The story remains as lyrical now as I first discovered then. I cannot imagine Christmas or literature without it. The tone is nearly perfect watching Ebenezer Scrooge transform from a cold, old miser into a human being desiring another chance to give back to the world.To fully appreciate the language, I recommend listening to it or reading the story aloud.

[bibleblaster · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

First time I've actually read the story. Well worth it, if only for those little details the movies might miss...And replete with messages for the current debt crisis :-)

[1avidfan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful illustrations by PJ Lynch sets this edition above the others. The full page illustrations throughout the book helps bring the story alive with the scenes of Victorian England.

[murderbydeath · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well, I don't need to tell anybody here about Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. I might be the only person living who hadn't already read it at some point. I'll just say Tim Curry is brilliant (also not news) and he elevated the story to art. My reaction throughout the story was surprise, as I had always had the impression that Scrooge was a hostile witness throughout the first two ghosts' visits. That's what I get for comparing the real thing to a TV adaptation. Anyway, if you're looking for a brilliant audio production of a classic for Christmas, look no further than this little gem.

[robert.zimmermann · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Being my first Dickens, I won't be shying away from him just yet, but I figured I'd start with a short one first. Most of us already know the story of A Christmas Carol. There are so many adaptations of it in the modern world that it's hard to escape it. When looking at the story itself, I might think to have given it almost 5 stars. But that's not all that goes into writing a book. If I had the option, I would have cut a majority of what was written into this book. Dickens seems to like listing off anything and everything, whenever he can. When establishing the setting of a scene, he wrote on and on about various things, but by the time he got back to moving the story forward, I'd given up on caring where it was set anymore. At least the dialogue was strong enough.

So I'm torn between the story and the writing style for this one, and I predict it'll be the case in any future Dickens I try out. I might be surprised though. Time will tell. Maybe the thick books I have on my shelf isn't the author being long winded and stretching out a story for no reason. Wink, wink. Nudge, nudge.

[natek_23 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Dickens was a great writer, and deserves all the praise he gets. That said. I didn't like this book. I don't relate to stories like this and have a hard time connecting with the motivations of the characters. I find the majority of the actions exasperating, and rather than propelling me forward in the tale, I'm just left wondering how long this will go on. Unfortunately Dickens was paid by the word, so the answer is inevitably, too long.

[briandarvell_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A greater classic of literature and Christmas there is not. This novel is a terrific story on the benefits of improving your character and taking into consideration all those around you. The story was a quick and joyful read that also happened to be the first time I have read this well-known classic. Although, I knew the story quite well through the various televised versions one finds every year I was still surprised to notice many scenes which I had never witnessed in the filmed productions.I am happy to now say that I have read the story and been retold that people of all ages and of all wealths can always do more to improve their method of treating others. Using a period of great festiveness such as Christmas can be a terrific starting point to be conscience in aiding and helping others when you have something to spare. Oftentimes, a person doesn't realize their fault at mistreating their friends or families and very much regret their actions later in life. This is a very tragic and unfortunate occurrence which I am sure all would like to avoid. This story emits beautifully the true meanings of family, friends and Christmas which now are sometimes lost in the materialistic and commercial acquiring frenzy that Christmas often has a tendency to be. Just another example why Dickens, despite claims that this story was a simple potboiler story for him to pay debts, is still among the greatest authors of the English language. Other than Santa Claus, few are as memorable and well-known with regard to Christmas as that of the irritable and miserly Scrooge.

[benuathanasia · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thoroughly enjoyable, thus far. For someone who was paid by the word, Dickens is doing a wonderful job getting to the point. Update: Excellent story. It's a moral story, but it doesn't really beat you over the head with the lessons - though Pip ruminates on them often in the second half of the book.Dickens' writing style is very much to my liking. He's long-winded, like Tolkien, but unlike Tolkien, he won't spend four pages talking about the same rock, but rather focuses more on ideas.

[06nwingert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The  Christmas classic. Dickens uses A Christmas Carol to highlight and underscore the economic conditions in Dickensian-era London. This book came to America in 1870, and, according to The Battle for Christmas, is the reason that Christmas is legal in America.

[herebedragons · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

#65, 2006My son became interested in Charles Dickens after watching the recent “Doctor Who” episode which features Dickens as a character, and I thought we’d start with this book – mostly because it’s not incredibly long like some of Dickens’ other books. When my son started asking about Dickens, I realized that I’ve never actually read any of his books – I’m familiar with most of the stories one way or another, but I’d never actually sat down and read one. So, I was pleased to have this opportunity.We really enjoyed this book! I read it aloud to him at bedtime, over the course of several days, and it was loads of fun. There is wonderful dialogue, and while Dickens does get wordy in places – he must be the king of the run-on sentence, and all those lists of things that go on and on – I found it was easy to see where he was going and feel the pleasant flow of his prose as I read aloud. He has a powerful way of describing things that made them seem very real to me. (My son’s favourite part is the very first appearance of Marley’s ghost – in the door knocker; I’m not sure I have a favourite part – oh wait, yes I do. I enjoyed times when the ghosts echoed some of Scrooge’s less charitable words back at him. What a wonderful way of illustrating the point)!It’s a touching story, too – possibly more so in the book than in any of the film versions I’ve seen. The message of peace and goodwill towards others really comes across, and yet it’s not at all “preachy.” Speaking of films, we also watched two adaptations this past week, and I thought the one with Alastair Sim (1951, IIRC) was an excellent adaptation. There is a lot of dialogue that was taken directly from the text, and while there are some scenes created for the film, I thought they fit in well, and the film does a fine job of capturing the spirit of the book.This book deserves the label “classic.” We enjoyed it very much, and will likely read it again.Assuming, that is, we ever get through the next Dickens we plan to tackle – “Oliver Twist” – which has an awful lot of pages, and very small type! :DLJ Discussion

[scolgo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Finally got around to this classic and, even though I was familiar with the story from having seen the myriad of film versions, I enjoyed reading the source material quite a bit. It's very well-written - if a bit wordy in spots, (it is Dickens after all! :), but it's a fun little morality tale that carries a good message of Christmas cheer to last all through the year.

[devil_llama · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The classic Dickens tale of Scrooge and Marley, in which Charles Dickens set out to create a Christmas tradition...and succeeded, if our current December madness is any indicator. This tale remains popular because it is at once heartwarming and grim, painting a picture of a world that Dickens chose to chastise his whole life for not taking care of those that lived and worked in obscurity and poverty. The picture of courage, represented by the Cratchits, particularly Tiny Tim, is an attractive one, compelling us all to reexamine our own lives and determine if there is some way we can overcome our personal obstacles with half as much grace and dignity.

[annalovesbooks · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

ISBN 1550660012 - An adaptation of Charles Dickens' tale from Amoco (yes, the oil company) and Madison Marketing Unlimited. One of a series of four, including Good King Wenceslas, The Snow Queen and Mole's Christmas Welcome. Since I collect Christmas books, I'm always happy to find another one. Ebenezer Scrooge is a terrible miser who works his clerk, Bob Cratchit, very hard. Even on Christmas Eve, the seventh anniversary of the death of Jacob Marley, Scrooge's partner, Cratchit sits at his desk in the cold, working - because Scrooge has no Christmas spirit whatsoever. At home that night, Marley appears to Scrooge and warns him of what will happen to him if he doesn't change his ways. Marley says three spirits will visit him and Scrooge should listen to them. One after another, the spirits of Christmas Past, Christmas Present and Christmas Yet to Come visit, showing Scrooge the error of his ways. He awakes in the morning, thrilled to not have missed Christmas, and begins to change by doing an anonymous good deed for the Cratchit family.It is difficult, as an adult, to fairly review a book like this. I've spent decades seeing movies and books of this story, ranging from absolutely fantastic to cringe-worthy. I know the details of the original and see immediately what is lacking (his nephew, his interaction with the Cratchits, etc). This book isn't for me, or the other parents who know the story; it is for the very young reader (ages 3-6) who won't know the original and so won't miss the missing details. For them, it is probably a better book than it is to me. The (uncredited) illustrations are okay, but not the sort I'd think would appeal to kids. The last page contains a bit of information about Dickens, which I found to be a nice touch but again, unlikely to appeal to kids. Not the best kids' edition of this classic.- AnnaLovesBooks

[bruce_deming_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Oh I really couldn't relate to this book at the time. Required reading in school.
I was not cooperative in getting into it really. Can't say i gave i t any fair shot.

[ldvoorberg · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A great story that everyone should read (or at least watch the movie version with the Muppets!).

[charlie68_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The original that launched the many copies. After all the ones I've watched the first still holds up.

[schmicker · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Dickens eminently accesible, immortal masterpiece.

[elizatanner · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I recently received a new version of a great classic, A Christmas Carol By Charles Dickens. This particular version is illustrated by Francine Haskins with an afterword by Kyra E. Hick. This version has wonderful illustrations that belong in everyone's collection. Thank you to Kyra E. Hick for bringing this to my attention so that I may share it. Francine Haskins brings to live a Christmas Carol for ALL to enjoy regardless of where we live.