Great Expectations

Discover the story of Great Expectations with this striking collector's edition from Union Square & Co.'s Signature Editions series! The classic texts that shaped our culture feature exclusive cover art by distinguished artist Malika Favre. Her bold, graphic style gives each classic literature book a small masterpiece for a jacket. Collect the set or prize this Great Expectations special edition as your showpiece literary classic.

 

Pip is a poor orphan, a boy with "no expectations" being raised by his unkind sister and her husband in a small home on the marshes of Kent. But when Pip meets the bizarre Miss Havisham and her beautiful ward, Estella, he starts to yearn for a life as a gentleman. However, Pip will discover that wealth and honesty do not go hand in hand, and that kindness can be found in the most surprising places.



Literary history and meaning: Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens, was first published in 1861. This novel follows the life of an orphan named Pip as he grows from boyhood to adulthood, encountering various characters and challenges along the way. Through Pip's journey, Dickens explores themes of social class, ambition, wealth, and the complexities of human relationships. Dickens's vivid characters, sharp social commentary, and intricate plot have made Great Expectations one of his most enduring and beloved works. Its relevance today is evident in its exploration of social mobility, identity formation, and the pursuit of success, themes that continue to resonate with modern readers.
Charles Dickens (1812–1870) was the second of eight children in a family beset by financial insecurity. A prolific and popular author, even in his day, Dickens is widely regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era.