Nicholas Nickleby

Common Dickensian themes of poverty, social class, and honor come across clearly in this tale of a 19-year-old country gentleman who is suddenly impoverished when his beloved father dies after losing his fortune. Nicholas, with his mother and sister Kate, fiend themselves at the mercy of their rich, loutish uncle Ralph Nickleby who delights only in their misery. He sends Nicholas away to work as a teacher at Dotheboys Hall, a decrepit boarding school attended by sad, soiled, abused urchins. Meanwhile, Kate's reputation is at stake with uncle Ralph trying to marry her off to a foulmouthed client to whom he owes a debt. With the help of his faithful sidekick Smike, Nicholas avenges Kate's honor and conspires with some new friends to bring down horrid uncle Ralph.