One of the most popular novelists ever, Charles Dickens wrote about what he saw in 19th century London: orphans, child labor, and the crime that was rampant in the city at the time. In the 1861 bestseller `Great Expectations,` he wove all of these themes into a tale of mystery and personal development. The story of a young orphan boy—poor and alone, but whisked away to London by a anonymous benefactor—is a fantastic tale, complete with plot twists and a love story that puts many modern novels to shame. To this day, `Great Expectations` remains one of Dickens's greatest achievements.
