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