Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens

LITTLE DORRIT
By SHARON GEISHEIMER on April 27, 2009

Breathtaking!!! One of Dickens' beat works! I couldn't wait for each Sunday evening. I hope PBS continues with more of Dickens' works!

Not too well known Dickens work
By E. Sam on April 14, 2009

Little Dorrit is not as famous as Dickens' other works such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, and A Christmas Carol. In many of his other works, a male figure tends to be the major focus of the book. Hard Times is one notable exception where a young female is the major character. This one also focuses on a female character who outshines the major male figure in this story and binds the entire story plot together. I think Dickens took not only parts of his personal experience with the story (especially the debtor prison stay), but included other people who were his relatives into the characters in this novel. The storyline takes a very familiar viewpoint against the snobbishness and greed of Victorian England. The ending reinforces the message that what really matters in life is not status, money, or power. The selfless nature of the heroine and hero of this novel is what Dickens probably looked as an ideal person.

A recent film version of the novel was shown in England in late 2008 and is being broadcast on PBS in America during April 2009. The 1988 film version (with Alec Guiness getting a Supporting Actor nomination) did not get much wide publicity. I think the new film version will spark an increased interest in the novel and spur sales of the DVD and book. In my opinion, the recent film is excellent and gives a very complex and intricate picture of life in England in the early 1800's.

By Saad Gul on February 28, 2006

Little Dorrit is by far one of the better books of Charles Dickens. There may not be enough gravity or misery in the book to make it a classic. However the scenes, the atmosphere, the mistery, the characters are all superb and blend in nearly flawlessly.

The characters have been developed wonderfully and come in a good time. Dickens takes liberty with some of the characters in introducing them and in showing the contrast but the characters seem real and very likeable (and equally irritating at times).

The romance is wonderful and thankfully not overdone. It gives a clean, fresh feeling of what pure "love" can be.

It is likely to make considerable impact on your outlook of life.

For me this is one of the best pieces of literature out there. It definitely does not get better.