Nicholas Nickleby

When Nicholas Nickleby's father dies, the family is left penniless and turns to a wealthy uncle, Ralph, for help. Ralph, a cold moneylender, sends Nicholas to teach at a brutal Yorkshire boarding school and finds work for Nicholas's sister Kate in London. What follows is a sprawling, comic, and deeply moving journey through early Victorian England, from the cruelty of Dotheboys Hall to the warmth of a kind-hearted family of merchants.

Charles Dickens's third novel, first published in monthly installments in 1838 and 1839, blends uproarious humor with fierce social criticism. It introduces a host of memorable characters: the villainous schoolmaster Wackford Squeers, the pathetic Smike, the eccentric Newman Noggs, the benevolent Cheeryble brothers, and the theatrical Mr. Crummles. At its heart is Nicholas himself, an impulsive but honest young man who must learn to navigate a world of greed and hypocrisy while protecting those he loves.

This edition contains the complete text of Nicholas Nickleby with the author's preface, along with a new introduction, a character guide, a summary, a list of themes, a glossary of old and unusual words, and discussion questions. It is designed for readers who want to enjoy the novel and understand its context, whether they are studying it for the first time or returning to a favorite.