Nicholas Nickleby
“Such is hope, heaven's own gift to struggling mortals...” Author: Charles Dickens After the death of young Nicholas’ errant father, the Nickleby family is cast into poverty, at the mercy of Ralph Nickleby, their only remaining relative. Ralph is a scheming uncle who finds love in money, not family. True to Dicken’s approach, the story unfolds almost as a fictional biography, highlighting the injustice of society and the importance of character over station. At Ralph’s arrangement, Nicholas is sent to a cheap school for boys, where he will work to support his mother, a ridiculous woman who spends her life toadying [...]