| Nicholas Nickleby, an 18-year-old gentleman's son, is left to take care of his mother and his beautiful sister Kate after his father's death. His father left them no money, and his dying wish was that the family goes to London and turns to help to his brother Ralph, a well-to-do businessman.
Uncle Ralph is not at all happy about Nicholas, Kate, and Mrs. Nickleby showing up on his doorstep, but he feels obligated to do something for them. He finds them a place to live and helps Nicholas to get a job as a headmaster's assistant at Dotheboys Hall, a boarding school for boys in Yorkshire. Mr. Squeers, the headmaster, turns out to be a monster terribly abusing the students, especially one older boy, a poor cripple named Smike. One day, when the boy is once again being beaten, Nicholas interferes, thrashes the headmaster, and runs away from the school. Smike joins him. They travel to Portsmouth, where they are unexpectedly invited to join a theater as actors. Things seem to go well, until Nicholas learns that his sister Kate is in trouble. Uncle Ralph, under whose protection the young lady was left, is using her to entertain his rich clients, caring little for her discomfort when those clients' advances go too far. Nicholas rushes back to London to defend the honor of his sister. | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book? - thoughtful Time/era of story - 1600-1899 Kids growing up/acting up? Yes Family, struggle with Yes Struggle with: - Uncle Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Parents/lack of parents problem? Main Character Gender - Male Age: - 20's-30's Ethnicity/Nationality Main Adversary Identity: - Male Age: - 60's-90's How sensitive is this character? Setting How much descriptions of surroundings? - 8 () Europe Yes European country: - England/UK City? Yes City: - London Writing Style Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog |
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