Great Expectations

by Charles Dickens

English, published in 1861

185,258 words (520 pages)

Categories: Fiction, Classic, Audiobook

Excerpt

After darkly looking at his leg and me several times, he came closer to my tombstone, took me by both arms, and tilted me back as far as he could hold me; so that his eyes looked most powerfully down into mine, and mine looked most helplessly up into his.

"Now lookee here," he said, "the question being whether you're to be let to live. You know what a file is?"

"Yes, sir."

"And you know what wittles is?"

"Yes, sir."

After each question he tilted me over a little more, so as to give me a greater sense of helplessness and danger.

"You get me a file." He tilted me again. "And you get me wittles." He tilted me again. "You bring 'em both to me." He tilted me again. "Or I'll have your heart and liver out." He tilted me again.

I was dreadfully frightened, and so giddy that I clung to him with both hands, and said, "If you would kindly please to let me keep upright, sir, perhaps I shouldn't be sick, and perhaps I could attend more."

He gave me a most tremendous dip and roll,

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Average Rating:

2009.02.27
Naveen

This book is text book for my english subject. Its an abridged form but I want the total information of this novel. so i downloaded it

In my view this is a plain cool story(love,humour and romance)

This is the best book i had ever read
Thank You

2009.02.19
Ladiee101

....This is the most boring book ive ever read, im in year 10 and were doing it for coursework...and i struggled to get past the first paragraph.- its so boring. Absolutely no plot.- cant even seem to understand what its about. I just cant be asked. The minute i heard the name of this book i just new it wa going to be soooo...crap...T_T

2009.01.04
Kevin

This is the worst book i have ever read. there is no plot and it is too hard to follow.

2009.01.03
baksh

Well i have to do it for my class eleven, and i found it very boring to read, but, the story is so good, that i can't tell you. I read the story online. And my rating is for the story.

2008.12.10
Nathanielle

I suppose this book could be a wonderful classic. However, reading it in Honors English in which you are forced to write essays on symbolism, themes, etc. is NOT the way to go. So, if you know you will read this in the future for school, you should probably read it now to enjoy it, because it is NOT enjoyable to read in Honors English class!!! (btw, if you do happen to read it w/ school, please dont use sparknotes. it ruins the book)

2008.08.21
Kyaw Htet Htet Latt

This story has many unexpected turning points. It makes me hard to predict what will happen in next chapter!

2007.11.02
apollo

i love this book,it is excellent!

2007.08.13
Bipolar Writer

The stories of Charles Dickens are very easy to love.

Though not as popular as his other opuses, Great Expectations enchants the reader through--as with many of Dickens' works--memorable characters, clever use of words, and a well-woven plot. Wordiness and the author's seeming resentment of women are my only problems with this novel. 4. =)

2005.10.16
Lainey

This is my first Dickens book and I thought the story was excellent. I thought it was dull at first but things start happening when Pip meets Miss Havisham and Estella and it gets exciting when Pip goes to London the mystery of the identity of his benefactor continues. Pip's transformation from a country boy to a gentleman then to a simple hardworking man (his head inflates a bit in London) is really the focus of this story.