De grandes espérances

I'm enjoying my new tradition of reading a Charles Dickens novel in the runup to Christmas. I've watched several film and TV adaptations of his works over the years, but had been put off attempting the novels themselves by their length and the density if Dickens prose. As it turns out though, his vivid characterisations and melodramatic plots do suit my reading style pretty well. I'm not sure I would want to attempt more than one a year, but at that level of engagement the books are enjoyable and should last me a good decade yet. My choice for this year, Great Expectations, features the unexpected and exciting events of a Christmas Day for young Pip near the beginning of the novel so put me into a seasonal spirit!

I had only a vague recollection of watching a black and white Great Expectations film as a child (probably the 1946 one rerun on Sunday afternoon TV) so remembered images of scary Magwitch on the misty marshes, and bizarre Miss Havisham in her wedding dress. However very little of the actual plotline remained in my mind so the story I thought I would encounter was strikingly different to the one I have just read. This was a little confusing at times, but made for a better reading experience because I really didn't know what would happen next. I was struck by the number of convenient coincidences that drove the narrative, several of which raised my eyebrows, however I cannot fault Dickens' portrayal of memorable characters and distinctive settings.

Pip himself is an irritating little so-and-so, even more so once he begins to realise his Expectations, and Dickens' patronising attitude towards women did grate on me from time to time. Those aspects aside though, I loved Wemmick's Castle and our glimpses of his life there with Aged Parent. Pumblechook is fun too and I felt sorry for both Estella and Miss Havisham. I could picture lots of the London settings as well as the bleak marshes and I frequently chuckled at Dickens' mentions of etiquette and behaviours. He had a great talent for slipping sharply observed detail into scenes. If only he could have held back on his sentimental speechifying! Overall though, Great Expectations is a good coming of age novel that I felt has stood the test of time exceptionally well.