Great Expectations - Hardcover

Dickens, Charles

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 019274190X ISBN 13: 9780192741905

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2002

Synopsis

"I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip." So begins James Riordan's lively retelling of Great Expectations, Charles Dickens's classic novel about a boy taken from poor beginnings, educated as a gentleman, and his ultimate discovery of the identity of his mysterious benefactor. This compelling and easy-to-read version of Great Expectations is vividly brought to life with the illustrations of Victor G. Ambrus, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in England and the artist for numerous other classics in this popular series, including Moby Dick, Gulliver's Travels, The Wizard of Oz, and many others.

About this title

About the Author:

James Riordan has written numerous books for children, including many translations of Russian tales. He is the author of Gulliver's Travels and King Arthur, two other delightful retellings of popular stories published by Oxford.
Victor G. Ambrus was born in Budapest. He has illustrated more than 200 books and is a two-time winner of the Kate Greenaway Medal.

From School Library Journal:

Grade 4-7-Abridged editions of this classic abound. Half of the space here is given to Ambrus's free-line renderings, with elements of caricature but a fundamental realism (not unlike Charles Dickens's own method). Riordan's version retains some of the flavor of the original and atmospheric touches. However, Orlick, Wopsle, Miss Skiffins, the Aged P., Matthew Pocket, and others are gone, together with the incidents in which they figured. Biddy, Wemmick, Drummle, and Clara are given a phrase each. (But why mention Pumblechook when he is no longer a satiric vehicle?) Readers haven't enough time to feel Pip's long deception about his expectations, or his hopeless love for Estella, so the reversals lack force. Magwitch is hardly offstage before he reappears, and Riordan has sacrificed the early hints of his tender heart. The introduction of Estella's true parentage is so abrupt as to be incredible. Mindlessly, the final sentence (of the usual ending, not Dickens's original) has been altered to read, "I saw the shadow of no parting from her," a change of syntax and meaning from "I saw no shadow of another parting." Ambrus helps fill in some of the setting and character (e.g., by humanizing Magwitch). Unfortunately there is no final, enthusiastic description of the unabridged original, encouraging readers to seek it out. As an enticement, this retelling surpasses Cliffs Notes, and if Dickens can be reduced to a picture book, this does the job.
Patricia D. Lothrop, St. George's School, Newport, RI
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 019274190X
• ISBN 13: 9780192741905
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 96
• Illustrator: Ambrus Victor