Great Expectations

Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher: SPLINTER
Publishing date: 2012
Pages: 571

"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

The story follows Philip Pirrip - Pip for short - who is in his infancy forced to steal some food and a file for a fugitive who threatens to kill him otherwise. And this deed haunts him from then on. When Pip falls in love with a rich and cold-hearted young lady, Estella, to which guardian Mis Havisham he keeps company time to time, Pip begins to hanker for being a genteman who would be worthy a beautiful Estella. When his wish comes true, he doesn't realize where his sudden wealthiness might lead him to...

"Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape."

Great Expectations was the third book I've read by Charles Dickens (the previous ones being A Christmas Carol and Oliver Twist), so I believe that I have been acquinted with his work quite properly, although I have yet to cope with some of his largest tomes. As you may know, I am a huge fan of A Christmas Carol. It's one of my all time favourite books, for sure. Oliver Twist I also love, but Great Expectations is undoubtedly the best of all. It's quite possibly the most beautifully written book I've ever read, yet it's surprisingly easy to read and understand. Charles Dickens is such an quotable author. His sentences are in my opinion ones of the finest and most truthful in whole literature. I admire his work utterly. And Great Expectations is the one book of his I've connected with the most. I honestly found myself between the pages of this book. And I related to Pip entirely. I mean, he is certainly quite difficult character to like, since he does so many mistakes that lead him to all sorts of unfortunate affairs. But I am able to understand his wishes and dreams, for I've had them too. He just feels real to me, and the whole book seems like his most sincere confession. And it's not a reader's business to judge, only listen.

"So throughout life, our worst weaknesses and meannesses are usually committed for the sake of the people whom we most despise."

Charles Dickens is a master when it comes to the characters. They are so precisely crafted. And I couldn't help feeling for them. I was scared by them, also touched and amused, I feared for them too, and often felt allied to them. Some of them were so nice and the others rather horrid or downright weird. Either way, I just loved reading about them all. I also enjoyed the settings of this novel. It was highly interesting to visit London in Victorian era. Even though the skyline of the city wouldn't be recognizable at all for Charles Dickens nowadays, I think that some of the things about the place haven't really changed since his age. And I absoltely adored his description of the main city od England. It was stunning and mesmerizing. Just like the book itself. Even if I knew the basic storyline beforehand, there were many things which took me by surprise. Great Expectations is surely an amazing classic to read for anybody who yearns for beautiful language and thrilling plot at the same time...

Rating: 5/5