logo

70 pages 2 hours read

Great Expectations

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1861

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Charles Dickens

Great Expectations

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1861
Book Details
Pages

544

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 19th century

Publication Year

1861

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Great Expectations follows the life of an orphan named Pip, who lives with his sister and her husband. Pip seeks to better his station by gaining an education and making connections with the wealthy, particularly Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter, Estella. After receiving a mysterious inheritance, he becomes a gentleman in London, learns the truth about his benefactor, and matures through various trials and relationships.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Nostalgic

Reviews & Readership

4.1

832,873 ratings

65%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is lauded for its rich character development and vivid depiction of Victorian society. Critics praise its intricate plot and profound themes of social class and personal redemption. However, some find the pacing slow and the prose occasionally dense. Overall, it's considered a classic with enduring literary value.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Great Expectations?

Readers who enjoy Great Expectations by Charles Dickens typically appreciate intricate character development, themes of personal growth, and social critique. Fans of Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, which also explore complex characters and societal issues, would likely enjoy this novel.

4.1

832,873 ratings

65%

Loved it

22%

Mixed feelings

12%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

544

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 19th century

Publication Year

1861

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

14+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.