Customer Reviews

Nicholas Nickleby (Oxford World's Classics)

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While it may be an overstatement to say that there is not a wasted word in a 762 page novel, at least it feels like there is not a wasted word in Charles Dickens's 762 page "Nicholas Nickleby". Generally described as being a critique on the deplorable conditions of reform schools during the 1800's, this epic novel is that and much more- comedy, romance, farce, social critique, and by and by, brilliant. The title character is a down-on-his-luck do-gooder who finds himself working at an all boys school in which the boys, to say the least, are mistreated. After rescuing and escaping with one of the more abused youth, Nicholas leads a series of adventures in which he finds himself working for a theater troupe, confounding the evil machinations of his heartless uncle, and resisting the urges of young love. The book is filled with dozens of characters, each on the verge of being a carictature, but ultimately memorable thanks to Dicken's descriptive prowess. Laugh out loud funny most of the time, Dickens balances witty dialogue that would not be out of place in a Monty Python script with short bursts of heartfelt philosophy that capture the human condition in all its glory. The novel's greatest triumph is that the various threads which run throughout the book are tidied up in the final pages not only in a non-contrived way, but with insight and revelation into the actions of some of its more baser characters.
All in all, an amazing read and easily one of the highlights of a literary career filled with many.

Difficult to read, but an interesting story. I must say he did like to describe the surroundings. I would have rather gotten on with the story. He also made some of his characters too "wordy".