The Old Curiosity Shop — Charles Dickens

Nell Trent is brilliant She might be physically small and weak but her character is very strong Archie 13 Why bless you Little Nell What if I had lost you Little Nell Trent s childhood is over Her grandfather s mind is failing his dark secret makes him sad and distracted and he has nobody to care for him but Nell The grotesque Daniel Quilp is out to cause trouble What plans does he hatch with the dreadful Sampson and Sally Brass What use can he hope to make of the foolish Dick Swiveller Is Nell s one true friend Kit a match for Quilp s villainous mind Nell and her grandfather must disappear or be separated forever and so they begin their lives as beggars When a mysterious gentleman arrives in London determined to track them down it becomes a race against time and against the evil of Quilp Can Little Nell keep her grandfather safe Who will protect Nell Will the mysterious gentleman find them before it is too late

The Old Curiosity Shop is one of two novels the other being Barnaby Rudge which Charles Dickens published along with short stories in his weekly serial Master Humphrey s Clock from 1840 to 1841 It was so popular that New York readers stormed the wharf when the ship bearing the final instalment arrived in 1841 The Old Curiosity Shop was printed in book form in 1841 The plot follows the life of Nell Trent and her grandfather both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London Queen Victoria read the novel in 1841 and found it very interesting and cleverly written