Charles Dickens book summaries

“I loved her against reason, against promise, against peace, against hope, against happiness, against all discouragement that could be.”

Pip reflects on his obsessive love for Estella, despite her coldness and the hopelessness of his pursuit.

“Ask no questions, and you'll be told no lies.”

Pip's sister, Mrs. Joe, often says this to Pip and Joe, reflecting her harsh and secretive nature.

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape.”

Estella speaks to Pip near the end of the novel, acknowledging her past cruelty and her hope for redemption.

“In the little world in which children have their existence, whosoever brings them up, there is nothing so finely perceived and so finely felt, as injustice.”

The narrator describes Pip's childhood feelings of injustice, particularly regarding his sister's treatment.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

Opening lines of the novel, setting the tone for the contrasting themes of the era.

“Marley was dead: to begin there.”

Opening line of the novella, establishing the fact of Marley's death.

“If I could work my will, every idiot who goes about with 'Merry Christmas' on his lips should be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart.”

Scrooge's dismissive and bitter response to his nephew Fred's Christmas greeting.

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.”

Scrooge's promise to the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, showing his change of heart.

“God bless us, every one!”

Tiny Tim's closing words at the end of the story, expressing his hope and goodwill.

“It is required of every man, that the spirit within him should walk abroad among his fellow-men, and travel far and wide; and, if that spirit goes not forth in life, it is condemned to do so after death.”

Marley's ghost explaining to Scrooge why he is doomed to wander in chains.