How many pages is little dorrit

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The E-mail Address es field is required. There is hatred and malevolence here; a deep-seated resentment, but we are not privy to its cause, and neither is Arthur.

There are myriad minor characters who make this novel sparkle, although it is a sinister sparkle, perhaps as in sparkly vampires.

There is the avaricious Casby, with his flowing white hair and twinkly eyes, with a semblance of benevolence shining out of his bald head. Maria, like Flora, was pretty and flirtatious, and the daughter of a highly successful banker similar enough to a property-owner.

Dickens found her talkativeness especially irritating, and quickly attempted to extricate himself from all but the most essential social contact with her — and always strictly in public. Perhaps an old affection did temper his pen, however. Although it seems a cruel, heartless portrait initially, Flora reveals herself to have a heart of gold, and hidden perceptiveness, as the novel proceeds.

The silent ones are often more shadowy. It was deposited on every lip, and carried into every ear. There never was, there never had been, there never again should be, such a man as Mr Merdle. Nobody, as aforesaid, knew what he had done; but everybody knew him to be the greatest that had appeared. John Sadleir had resigned his ministerial position, when he was found guilty of being implicated in a plot to imprison a depositor of the Tipperary Bank, because the individual in question had refused to vote for him.

John Sadleir had ended his life by drinking prussic acid. She values her own status, money and etiquette above all else. She grows greatly in character, but initially has understandable feelings of resentment.

She was a foundling, who has ostensibly been adopted by the Meagles. We have a veritable panoply of characters then, full of energy and life, spilling from the pages, as always in a novel by Dickens — and there are many more I have not mentioned.

And the dastardly villain of the piece? For this novel does not start out in the dank gloom of the Marshalsea, but in an oppressive hellhole of a prison in the blistering heat of the South of France. Mysteries abound in this novel. There is truth, but mostly there are lies, and secrets. There is the collapse of an institution, both metaphorically and in a very dramatic literal scene. It is doom-laden, with delusions and dreams; mysterious creaking sounds are seen to be prophetic.

There is a suicide — and a murder — and animal cruelty. In the second part, there is restitution of a sort, and there is punishment. Debts are paid. Poverty is transformed into riches, and those who were kind to each other when they were poor, become more spiteful or selfish, considering such earlier behaviour to be humiliating.

Starting in Marseilles, the action removes to London and then Venice — a crumbling, decaying edifice, reflected in the degeneration of the characters within it.

In Little Dorrit any prosperity is almost a guarantee that the wealth will be put to bad use. Even that decidedly decent fellow Daniel Doyce, intelligent and kind, the inventor of an unspecified mechanical wonder, is unable to get a patent for it in the Circumlocution Office, and we fear for his future.

Nothing in Little Dorrit is what it appears to be. Almost all the characters are self-seeking, and the message of the novel is a very bleak one indeed. It has a far wider purview — Dickens here attacks the whole of British society.

The novel Little Dorrit does not merely indicate a dark view of human nature, but is a savage indictment of the corruption at the heart of British institutions, and the effects of British economic and social structure upon every single individual.

Dickens shows with this embittered novel that he believes British society to be rotten to the core, and riddled with deceit. This is another metaphor for that great destroyer of originality, the Circumlocution office. Together with the Stiltstalkings, the Barnacles infest both government and society, going around in circles, spewing red tape, and accomplishing nothing. They ensure that no business which might promote the common good is ever done, crushing both originality and initiative, and rendering all relationships false.

Dickens was well placed to comment on the Civil Service, and his view was savage, waspish — and also very witty.

The extraordinary achievement of Little Dorrit is that such a devastating and dour indictment of British society and institutions can be so very readable, so topical, yet at the same time so current, in its description of the never-ending wheels grinding on in the Civil Service — and to contain such delightful characters.

And now I can see the final scene in the book open up before my eyes. Went down into a modest life of usefulness and happiness If you approach the altar and look up at the left panel of the magnificent stained glass window behind it, you will see the figure of St George, see that his foot is resting on a piece of parchment.

Directly beneath this is a much smaller, kneeling figure of a girl, whose hands are clasped in prayer, and whose poke-bonnet is dangling from her back. We have that here, but we also have a deep sense of doom, or foreboding. Their destinies lie heavily shrouded in the ether; the fug of the city. I cannot think of a more apt description.

View all 45 comments. Now this book is primarily a love story although in a convoluted narrative, containing fraud, murder, suicide and hate, domestic violence A evil man who likes doing evil things, however some think this is a comedy Arthur Clennam the son after twenty ye Now this book is primarily a love story although in a convoluted narrative, containing fraud, murder, suicide and hate, domestic violence Arthur Clennam the son after twenty years in China working with the recently deceased father in business comes home at the age of forty a virtual stranger in his native land of England And the people old friends and particularly relatives unknown, they in reality are strangers.

Mother, Mrs. Clennam cold, intelligent, unforgiving lady with dark secrets in a wheelchair for many years Clennam wonders why? The parents were for a numerous time, estranged. In the same house a poor little woman of 22, Amy Dorrit a part time servant there that for obvious reasons Arthur calls "Little Dorrit," the timid girl doesn't mind Her father William has been in debtors prison, Marshalsea for 23 years But of course his daughter Amy lives with him in the ugly compound taking care of the wretch, the widower two other children envious Fanny , and Edward the drunk have shed the bad remembrances or tried to and live outside, not very well though.

Arthur falls for Amy but being 18 years older is he entitled, feeling uncomfortable and sees various women, Flora a lady he almost married but the flame is out only Little Dorrit can lite. Starting a new business with Daniel Doyce a brilliant inventor lacking the ways of bookkeeping they are perfect until the troubles begin; money or not enough as it is everywhere.

However the wealthiest man in England all say Mr. Merdle, has a get- rich- quick business proposition, Arthur is tempted. Then Mr. Blandois, not his real name for sure he has many, the evil man mentioned before, reenters the scene bringing gloom and destruction for those unable or unwilling to pay up, a mustached villain with a pointed nose the very image of mid 19th century, blackmail is his game.

To anyone who has read Mr. Dickens will surmise the ending but the fun is taking the long log obstacles road getting there. Little Dorrit is such a lovable girl which any person with a heart will love.

The bad thing is they only exist in fiction. View all 8 comments. My favourite Dickens of them all, and this was just the first time I'd read this! I felt that this was Dickens' primary take on the tightrope that the masses tried to balance their lives on to survive, with the very real threat of possible and quick imprisonment hanging over them all.

A grand tale of fortunes won and lost, that reveals so much about Victorian society. Back from overseas, Arthur Clennan takes a kindly interest in his family's seamstress Amy Dorrit, and her father who's in a debtor My favourite Dickens of them all, and this was just the first time I'd read this!

Back from overseas, Arthur Clennan takes a kindly interest in his family's seamstress Amy Dorrit, and her father who's in a debtor's prison. Through these relationships Clennan and I, the reader get to see how the system doesn't work; and the significant impact debtors' imprisonment has not only on the families involved, but on society as a whole. This was part of a journey I was undertaking to read most of Dickens work, but I was not prepared to find such a gem as this.

A wonderful reflection of Dickens in his writing maturity, and hopefully a story for the ages. View all 4 comments. Jul 20, Stas' rated it it was amazing. A forgotten classic, hidden among so many other fine works that Chuck produced. I laughed, I cried and I nearly peed myself because I refused to put the book down. It has been clinically proven that those who find Dickens too maudlin or sentimental are either emotionally stunted or full-on cold hearted sociopaths.

Clinically proven. Not suprisingly, Kafka loved this book what with the Circumlocution Office and the strange almost alternate reality of Marshalsea Debtors Prison.

If you have never re A forgotten classic, hidden among so many other fine works that Chuck produced. If you have never read Dickens, give yourself a good hard slap now and get started.

Jul 16, Violet wells rated it it was amazing. If only Dickens didn't almost always place at the heart of his novels the adored meek little girl woman.

She's rarely the shining moral light he wants her to be. Because she's created with too much sentimentality. Sentimentality is his other problem. If only he had seen more worth in trees and less in pretty garden flowers. But his novels always end in a domesticated garden with pretty flowerbeds and trimmed hedgerows and lawns. I had to abandon David Copperfield because for me the onslaughts of If only Dickens didn't almost always place at the heart of his novels the adored meek little girl woman.

I had to abandon David Copperfield because for me the onslaughts of whimsy ruined all the brilliant stuff. That said, I had a whale of a time with Little Dorrit. Yes, I wanted to shake Little Dorrit herself at times and found myself more supportive of her flawed and not entirely nice sister but this novel is so brilliantly put together, features so many masterpieces of character study and is such a fabulous biting and very funny satire of the ruling class, the privileged elite, which has lost none of its bite and relevance, that it's a joyous read from beginning to end.

I've fallen in love with Charles Dickens again. View all 18 comments. Dec 25, Sara rated it it was amazing Shelves: 19th-century-literature , classics , gutenberg-download , victorian. I read the book very slowly one chapter a day with full discussions in the Dickensians group, and my appreciation of it rose daily.

I'm afraid one read is just not enough for this complex and profound novel. My hat is always off to Mr. Dickens, one of the greatest writers of all time. I did not find these characters as compelling nor his plot as tight as usual, but still a worthy read and much enjoyed. The loves and hates in this novel were also somewhat contrived.

Of course, those emotions can be pretty arbitrary in real life. Mainly, however, I did not feel that the explanation for the mysteries at the heart of the novel really made good sense. So, not on a level with Great Expectations or Bleak House , but still Sprinkled amid the convoluted story of Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clennam is a diatribe on bureaucracy that felt far too familiar.

Hold up your hand if Mr. Rugg, rubbing his hands with a cheerful air. And, when I came across this passage, I could not help thinking of Bernie Madoff: Numbers of men in every profession and trade would be blighted by his insolvency; old people who had been in easy circumstances all their lives would have no place of repentance for their trust in him but the workhouse; legions of women and children would have their whole future desolated by the hand of this mighty scoundrel.

Every partaker of his magnificent feasts would be seen to have been a sharer in the plunder of innumerable homes, every servile worshipper of riches who had helped to set him on his pedestal, would have done better to worship the Devil point blank. Would you not think people would have learned between and ? Apparently human nature thrives on the same errors repeated over centuries. There is much that could be said about this novel and, like every Dickens I have read, it would make for a marvelous group read.

If you want to know more and delve deeper, I strongly suggest that you take the time to read the review written by Bionic Jean, our resident Dickens guru, who never gets it wrong and always enlightens my reading.

I was afraid I was going to fail in my quest to read all of Dickens by culling two a year off my list. Thankfully, I have finished Little Dorrit just in time to satisfy this year.

I read Hard Times as well. I have Martin Chuzzlewit, about which I know nothing, and The Old Curiosity Shop, a story I am very familiar with but have not ever read, slated for It would be lovely if I could up the ante and squeeze in a third! I must say I have enjoyed every single novel so far. View all 48 comments. Emerging from Little Dorrit like Clennam from the Marshalsea Prison, after debts are paid and the story over, I feel a little bit like him as well!

How could you possibly leave a place like Dickens' Little Dorrit, once you were locked up with the characters? When you are locked up in the dark corner of Dickens' late Emerging from Little Dorrit like Clennam from the Marshalsea Prison, after debts are paid and the story over, I feel a little bit like him as well! When you are locked up in the dark corner of Dickens' late work, you don't have the freedom to take a walk in the bright sunshine of other books. You don't have the free air to breathe in a Goodreads review and send off some comments here and there, just for the easy-going pleasure of it.

A thousand pages, a thousand feelings, a thousand worries to share. After a thousand pages, the paperback book will have a story of its own to tell: ripped and torn and smudged and folded and squeezed and cherished and stroked with the caring hand of Amy Dorrit, it will tell the story of the reader who dropped everything and forgot the rest to make sure that a house came crashing down on the evil spirit of Blandois and that Dorrit's riches wouldn't stay to prevent Amy's happiness.

Society - that Invisible Monster - came out quite unscathed, as always, but for Little Dorrit and her friends, and for Clennam and Doyce in particular, failing in the social and financial machinery will only make them stronger in pursuing what is truly happiness: community and friendship and love in the strangest of places.

Locked up or set free: hearts are never prisoners in the company of those they love. View all 16 comments. Jul 24, Katie Lumsden rated it it was amazing. What a book. One of Dickens's best - a truly fantastic, moving clever novel, and an absolute favourite of mine.

Feb 08, B0nnie rated it it was amazing Shelves: favourite-books. Little Dorrit is a wonderful comic novel. Within these gentle pages are: -a severely brain damaged woman who was beaten and neglected by her alcoholic mother -a bitter old lady who just sits in a room for 15 years -evil twin brothers -an abusive husband who beats and torments his wife -spoiled twin sisters, one who kicks it early and is replaced by a resentful orphan -an innocent man rotting away in prison for years -children who are born and raised in prison -a suicide -a murder -in articulo mortis m Little Dorrit is a wonderful comic novel.

No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office. Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart. Also twins, doubles, and aliases. The ending though, is rather hasty and muddled. Oct 17, Alasse rated it it was amazing Shelves: victorians-and-friends. I have a really close friend - let's call him Charlie. Charlie began college at 18, like most of us did. Then he sort of started drifting, and his friends began to suspect he wasn't sitting his exams.

The years went by, and gradually they began to realize he wasn't even enrolling. He just avoided the issue, or made such an elaborate pretense of being terribly busy during exam season, they tacitly left the whole thing alone.

To this day, he hasn't officially quit university or laid out any altern I have a really close friend - let's call him Charlie. To this day, he hasn't officially quit university or laid out any alternative plans for his life - he's just frozen. But he's made such a good job of obliterating the issue, he firmly believes he's eventually finishing law school. He's 30 now. We talk on an almost daily basis, and I have never discussed this with him.

I thought a lot about Charlie while reading Little Dorrit. I'm not going to dwell on the main themes in this novel. Firstly, because I have nothing to add that hasn't already been covered in the previous reviews. The imprisonment motif, the dysfunctional families, the criticism of Victorian society and of government incompetence - they're all there, and they're probably what the novel is about, mostly.

But they didn't exactly surprise me - rather, those are topics one can always count on Dickens for covering in his, at the same time, sarcastic and empathic style. In this respect, the book delivers better than almost any Dickens I've read to date. The whole subplot concerning the fictional Circumlocution Office is borderline Kafkian, and the family melodrama gets dark.

Like, really dark. But that is not the novel I have read. Which is embarrassing, because it's the novel all of the scholars have read, and all of GR's reviewers too. Meaning what I'm going to say now is going to sound, really, really pretentious. Okay, here I come: that's not what Little Dorrit really talks about. Almost every main character in this novel and a good portion of the secondary ones as well are bent on deceiving themselves as methodically as possible. Sure, there are a couple of people here and there who pretend in front of other people, but they aren't believing their own lies.

Still, pretty much everybody else is investing so much energy on self-deception, and making such a point of believing their own lies, I sometimes felt exhausted just watching them. There's of course the Dorrit family, with their airs of self-importance and wounded pride, overcompensating for the fact that they've been penniless for the last 25 years. Flora Finching insists on behaving like the year old she once was, in the hopes that her old lover will propose to her again.

Arthur insists on shutting off his feelings for Minnie Gowan, even after it becomes obvious that he's feeling deeply disappointed - the whole subplot is told in the third person, in a way that strongly reminded me of a depersonalization episode once recounted to me by a schizophrenic patient. And on, and on, and on. Of course I'm not claiming to know Dickens's mind better than the Harold Blooms of this world.

But trust me - if you're at all interested in why people do what they do, you'll find Little Dorrit isn't just about bureaucracy and poverty. In fact, it might be that it's about the power of the human nature for believing its own lies, and how everyone else is just too polite to tell you to shut up.

View all 13 comments. Little Dorrit is a dark tale written by Charles Dickens. It is dark in texture, atmosphere, and satire. The story begins in a prison and also technically ends in one.

The prison atmosphere dominates the story even when it's not present. And as it happens, most of the other settings in London too, have a similar ambiance of confinement, gloom, and airlessness. It was at first puzzling why Dickens set such a gloomy tone to the story, but when it is understood that the setting is a necessary charac Little Dorrit is a dark tale written by Charles Dickens.

It was at first puzzling why Dickens set such a gloomy tone to the story, but when it is understood that the setting is a necessary character to work on the dominating themes of the story, all felt into a pattern. The main reason that induced Dickens to write this story is his need to expose the obstacles that operated to impede the forward progress of the country. Search books and authors. Buy from…. View all retailers Find local retailers. Penguin Classics Relaunch When Arthur Clennam returns to England after many years abroad, he takes a kindly interest in Amy Dorrit, his mother's seamstress, and in the affairs of Amy's father, William Dorrit, a man of shabby grandeur, long imprisoned for debt in the Marshalsea.

Also by Charles Dickens. Related titles. Nineteen Eighty-Four. The Picture of Dorian Gray. War And Peace. To Kill A Mockingbird.

Pride and Prejudice. Brave New World. Crime and Punishment. Little Women.