Loralee MacPike does an excellent job of exploring the role Dickens's novels played in Dostoevsky's works. Focusing on Dickens's The Old Curiosity Shop and David Copperfield, she shows their impact on two of Dostoevsky's novels: The Insulted and Injured and The Possessed. This is a brilliant analysis, and a fine critical work that made me appreciate both writers even more than I already had.

I have read all Jane Austens books. They are funny and colourless. Most of all I liked the book: Pride and Prejudice.But Emma is funnier. I have seen the movie:Emma,and the movie: Pride and Prejudice.They were very funny!

I listened to the unabridged audio tape version of this book narrated by Michael Page. It's one of those deals where you listen to each tape entirely on the left channel, then play the whole tape again on the right channel to get the next part of the story. Which is kind of awkward, since you forget which channel you were on if you also use your stereo for music; but these editions are probably the least expensive (by the hour) audio tapes you can buy.

I think Dickens' tendency toward exhaustive descriptions works a lot better when you're listening to it in the car than when you're reading it in print. I might never have had the patience to read the actual book while sitting in a chair, but listening to it in the car was pretty entertaining. Colorful characters, humor, suspense, unexpected plot twists; I can picture a lot of it in my mind even now. A recommended story.

I absoulutely love this book! I was required to read Great Expectations for school, and what I thought was going to be a long and dull school novel turned out to be my favorite book of all times. It has everything that you could want in a story; life lessons, mystery, love, sadness, regret, passion, and so much more! If you enjoy reading about life's twists and turns, like the way Dickens writes, or you just want to read a good book, Great Expectations is the perfect choice. You will instantly fall in love with this Charles Dickens classic!

This edition of Dickens' Great Expectations is considered one of, if not THE scholarly edition now in print. It contains a cogent introduction to the novel and an exhaustive appendix. Although the price will keep many, if not all, from purchasing the book it is definetly look for from a library--looking in a university's library is probably the best bet for finding a copy.

Pip,a poor orphan boy living with his sister and her husband, who is the village blacksmith, wishes for the new world to live life of a gentlemen in. As if an answer to his wishes, Pips learns from Mr. Jagger that he has been given an enormous quantity of money from a secret benefctor, this money is enough to live the life of a wealthy gentlemen in London. There he stayes with Herbert Pockt. When he sees Estella the girl of his dreams, the adopted girl of the rich, Miss Havisham. To find out who his benefactor and what happenes with Estelaa you have to read this truely great story for it is called "Great" "Expectatons."

Or so says Stephen Blackpool. Like many of the Hands (factory workers), Stephen Blackpool feels stuck in a life of mediocrity. He and others like him are trampled by the Mr. Gradgrinds and Mr. Bounderbys of the world...

Hard Times is Dickens' critique of just how evil capitalism is at its heart. Before modifications of capitalism (like sexual harassment laws, child labor laws, civil rights, the 40-hour work week), commercial life, especially factory work, was dangerous to not only the body, but the mind (some would argue that this still is the case). And when someone wants out of that life, it isn't always as easy as walking away.

Dickens also criticizes the Gradgrind philosophy of Fact, Fact, Fact! There is no pleasure found in Fancy or imagination according to Mr. Gradgrind, and Gradgrind drills this into his students and children. The results of his philosophy do not surface right away. However, soon his daughter lapses into indifference, his son rebels and becomes a selfish thief, and a student of Gradgrind's (Bitzer) shows the coldness of Fact, Fact, Fact.

The symbolism is often blatant and comical (such as the name of one teacher, Mr. M'ChoakumChilde), but there is also some very disturbing criticism (reality will take a "wolfish turn, and make an end of you") that still gives me the chills.

Also, there is a mass of scholarly criticism that rivals the novel in length, a very nice addition.

This is truly one of Dickens' great works. It is just as powerful as "A Tale of Two Cities."

Palmer's third book in this "series" continues to capture Victorian England; he is able to evoke the landscape and atmosphere of the time, of the place, and of the characters. Most don't. Aside from Anne Perry and Michael Crichton's "Great Train Robbery," I have not read such convincing Victoriana and the accompanying hypocrisy. Palmer is able to sustain the reader's interest throughout, particularly with his use of other "real" characters such as Florence Nightingale. He is able to make Dickens quite the human character!

How many millions of words have been written about Charles Dickens? Many thousands in one famous biography alone (Ackroyd). Nelly Terman is there as the Mistress character in most of those, but what do we learn about Nelly? Nothing - until this biography.

It reads almost as a detective story as Tomalin uncovers not only the story of Terman-with-Dickens, but as much about Terman the woman as she can.

Highly recommended.

This slender volume is Charles Dickens' written interpertation on the four Gospels. He made the provision that it was not to be published until much later. It is a father's testimony of the truth of the things he held dear. A real treasure.