As for many of Dickens' novels, highlighting social injustices is at the heart of Little Dorrit. His father was imprisoned for debt, and Dickens' shines a spotlight on the fate of many who are unable to repay a debt when the ability to seek work is denied. Amy Dorrit is the youngest daughter of a man imprisoned for debt and is working as a seamstress for Mrs Clennam when Arthur Clennam crosses her path. Will the sweet natured Amy win Arthur's heart? And will they ever escape the shadow of debtors' prison?
Tells the story of Hattie Coram, who was abandoned as a baby at the London Foundling Hospital. She is trained as a domestic servant and becomes a maid in Charles Dickens' household where she is plagued by the nickname "Tattycoram" and eventually used by Dickens as a character in his novel, Little Dorrit.
Little DorritCharles DickensLittle Dorrit is a novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in serial form between 1855 and 1857. It satirises the shortcomings of both government and society, including the institution of debtors' prisons, where debtors were imprisoned, unable to work, until they repaid their debts.The novel begins in Marseilles "thirty years ago" (i.e., c. 1826), with the notorious murderer Rigaud telling his cell mate how he killed his wife. Arthur Clennam is returning to London to see his mother after the death of his father, with whom he had lived for twenty years in China. On his deathbed, his father had given him a mysterious watch murmuring "Your mother," which Arthur naturally assumed was intended for Mrs. Clennam, whom he and everyone else believed to be his mother.Inside the watch casing was an old silk paper with the initials DNF (Do Not Forget) worked into it in beads. It was a message, but when Arthur showed it to the harsh and implacable Mrs Clennam, a religious fanatic, she refused to tell him what it meant and the two become estranged.In London, William Dorrit, imprisoned as a debtor, has been a resident of Marshalsea debtors' prison for so long that his three children - snobbish Fanny, idle Edward (known as Tip) and Amy (known as Little Dorrit) - have all grown up there, although they are free to pass in and out of the prison as they please. Little Dorrit, devoted to her father, has been supporting them both through her sewing.
Little Dorrit is one of the most lyric, psychologically convincing and tragic novels by great Charles Dickens. It belongs to the pearls of his legacy. It is a story of a young woman who took the concern for a whole big family on her own tiny shoulders. This story could happen only in “Victorian” England. Dickens does not change his style – even in this novel, drama is found side by side rather convincingly and naturally with soft humour and severe sarcasm, the plot captivates and amazes, and charisma of the main heroine makes a reader feel and wait for happy changes together with her...
Little Dorrit is a novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in serial form between 1855 and 1857. The story features Amy Dorrit, youngest child of her family, born and raised in the Marshalsea prison for debtors in London.Arthur Clennam encounters her after returning home from a 20-year absence, ready to begin his life anew.The novel satirises the shortcomings of both government and society, including the institution of debtors' prisons, where debtors were imprisoned, unable to work, until they repaid their debts. The prison in this case is the Marshalsea, where Dickens' own father had been imprisoned. Dickens is also critical of the lack of a social safety net, the treatment and safety of industrial workers, as well as the bureaucracy of the British Treasury, in the form of his fictional "Circumlocution Office". In addition, he satirises the stratification of society that results from the British class system.
'Clennam rose softly, opened and closed the door without a sound, and passed from the prison, carrying the quiet with him into the turbulent streets.' Introspective and dreamy, Arthur Clennam returns to England from many years abroad to find a people gripped in their self-made social and mental prisons. Against a background of government incompetence and financial scandal, he searches for the key to the affairs of the Dorrit family, prisoners for debt in the Marshalsea. He discovers through the seamstress Amy Dorrit the fulfilment of which he dreams, but only after he learns to understand his own heart. Revelation and redemption haunt Dickens's portrayal of human relations as fundamentally distorted by class and money. The swindling financier Merdle, the bureaucratic nightmare of the Circumlocution Office, and a teeming cast of characters display the inadequacy of secular morality in the face of contemporary social and political confusion. Mixing humour and pathos, irony and satire, Dickens's eleventh novel reveals a master of fiction in top form. This new edition, based on the definitive Clarendon text, includes all of Phiz's original illustrations and a wide-ranging introduction highlighting Dickens's move to more personal and spiritual concerns. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Little Dorrit is a novel by Charles Dickens, originally published in serial form between 1855 and 1857. The story features Amy Dorrit, youngest child of her family, born and raised in the Marshalsea prison for debtors in London. Arthur Clennam encounters her after returning home from a 20-year absence, ready to begin his life anew.The novel satirises the shortcomings of both government and society, including the institution of debtors' prisons, where debtors were imprisoned, unable to work, until they repaid their debts. The prison in this case is the Marshalsea, where Dickens's own father had been imprisoned. Dickens is also critical of the lack of a social safety net, the treatment and safety of industrial workers, as well the bureaucracy of the British Treasury, in the form of his fictional "Circumlocution Office". In addition he satirises the stratification of society that results from the British class system.
Little Dorrit is a poignant novel by Charles Dickens that paints a vivid portrait of Victorian England while delving into themes of poverty, social class, and the struggle for personal freedom. At the heart of the story is Amy Dorrit, affectionately known as Little Dorrit, a gentle and selfless young woman who grows up in the Marshalsea debtor s prison alongside her father. As the narrative unfolds, readers are introduced to a cast of characters whose lives intersect with Little Dorrit s, including the kind-hearted Arthur Clennam, whose search for meaning leads him to uncover long-buried family secrets; the enigmatic Miss Wade, whose past is shrouded in mystery; and the wealthy and eccentric Mr. Merdle, whose financial schemes have far-reaching consequences. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing society, Little Dorrit navigates the complexities of her own life, finding solace in her acts of kindness and compassion towards others. Along the way, she encounters love, betrayal, and unexpected twists of fate that challenge her resilience and strength of character. Through its intricate plotlines and richly drawn characters, Little Dorrit offers readers a panoramic view of life in 19th-century England, from the bustling streets of London to the confines of the Marshalsea prison. With its themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the enduring power of the human spirit, Dickens s novel remains a timeless masterpiece that continues to resonate with readers today.
