Nicholas Nickleby

by Dickens, Charles

Collection

Project Gutenberg

Project Gutenberg Release

Project Gutenberg ID

967

Reading Ease

Reading ease score: 76.7 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.

Rights: Public domain in the USA.

Summary

"Nicholas Nickleby" by Charles Dickens is a novel written during the early 19th century. The story centers around Nicholas Nickleby, who is thrust into a tumultuous world upon the death of his father and is suddenly responsible for the welfare of his mother and sister. The narrative explores themes of poverty, education, familial bonds, and social injustice, set against the backdrop of Victorian England and its array of dubious educational institutions. At the start of the novel, we are introduced to Nicholas's family background and the unfortunate circumstances that lead to his seeking employment after his father's death. Nicholas learns that his affluent uncle, Ralph Nickleby, who previously seemed indifferent to their plight, might hold the key to their future welfare. As Nicholas grapples with the loss of his father and the responsibility of caring for his mother and sister, he decides to pursue a position as a schoolmaster at Dotheboys Hall, a Yorkshire institution run by the unscrupulous Mr. Squeers. This decision marks the beginning of his journey through a world filled with challenges and morally dubious characters, setting the stage for the adventures and misfortunes that lie ahead. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Metadata

language_code

en

bookshelf

Category: Classics of Literature
Category: British Literature
Category: Novels

locc_code

PR

subject

England -- Fiction
Bildungsromans
England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
Young men -- Fiction
Boarding schools -- Fiction
Poor families -- Fiction
Picaresque literature
Theatrical companies -- Fiction