# Great Expectations

> 1861 novel by Charles Dickens

**Wikidata**: [Q219552](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q219552)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Expectations)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/great-expectations

## Summary
*Great Expectations* is an 1861 novel by Charles Dickens, originally published as serialized fiction. It is a bildungsroman that follows the psychological and moral growth of its protagonist, Pip, and is noted for its use of black comedy and social critique.

## Key Facts
- **Publication Date**: First published on March 23, 1861.
- **Author**: Written by Charles Dickens (1812–1870), an English novelist and social critic.
- **Genre**: Classified as a bildungsroman (coming-of-age novel) and black comedy.
- **Format**: Originally serialized in installments, a common publication method for 19th-century fiction.
- **Setting**: Set in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922).
- **Preceded by**: *A Tale of Two Cities* (1859), another novel by Dickens.
- **Succeeded by**: *Our Mutual Friend* (1864), Dickens’s final completed novel.
- **Wikidata Sitelinks**: 68 sitelinks, indicating widespread recognition across languages and platforms.

## FAQs
**Who wrote *Great Expectations*?**
The novel was written by Charles Dickens, a prominent English novelist and social critic active during the Victorian era.

**What genre does *Great Expectations* belong to?**
It is a bildungsroman, focusing on the protagonist’s growth from youth to adulthood, and incorporates elements of black comedy.

**When was *Great Expectations* first published?**
The novel was first published on March 23, 1861, after being serialized in installments.

**What are the novels published by Dickens before and after *Great Expectations*?**
Before: *A Tale of Two Cities* (1859). After: *Our Mutual Friend* (1864).

**Why is *Great Expectations* significant in literature?**
It is a key example of the bildungsroman genre and reflects Dickens’s critique of Victorian society, blending humor with social commentary.

## Why It Matters
*Great Expectations* is a cornerstone of Victorian literature, offering a nuanced exploration of class, ambition, and moral development. Its serialized format made it accessible to a broad audience, reinforcing Dickens’s role as a social commentator. The novel’s enduring themes—such as the illusion of wealth and the consequences of unchecked ambition—remain relevant, influencing later works in the bildungsroman tradition. Its blend of humor and critique also highlights Dickens’s mastery of narrative and character.

## Notable For
- Being one of Charles Dickens’s most celebrated novels.
- Its serialized publication, a hallmark of 19th-century literature.
- Serving as a quintessential bildungsroman, shaping the coming-of-age genre.
- Incorporating black comedy, a distinctive stylistic choice for its time.
- Reflecting the social and economic tensions of Victorian England.

## Body
### **Overview and Publication**
*Great Expectations* is an 1861 novel by Charles Dickens, first published on March 23, 1861. It was initially serialized, a common practice for fiction in the 19th century, allowing Dickens to engage a wide readership over time. The novel is set in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland (1801–1922), capturing the societal norms and contradictions of the era.

### **Genre and Themes**
The novel is classified as a **bildungsroman**, a genre focused on the protagonist’s psychological and moral growth from youth to adulthood. It also employs **black comedy**, using dark humor to critique social structures. Themes of ambition, class mobility, and the illusions of wealth are central to the narrative, reflecting Dickens’s broader social concerns.

### **Author and Context**
Charles Dickens (1812–1870), the novel’s author, was a prolific English writer known for his social criticism. *Great Expectations* followed *A Tale of Two Cities* (1859) and preceded *Our Mutual Friend* (1864), marking a key period in Dickens’s literary career. His works often addressed inequality and human resilience, themes prominently featured in this novel.

### **Literary Significance**
As a serialized work, *Great Expectations* exemplifies the feuilleton tradition, where stories were published in installments in newspapers or magazines. This format allowed Dickens to maintain suspense and adapt to reader feedback. The novel’s enduring popularity is evident in its **68 Wikidata sitelinks**, indicating its global recognition and translation into multiple languages.

### **Related Works**
- **Preceding Novel**: *A Tale of Two Cities* (1859), another Dickens classic set during the French Revolution.
- **Succeeding Novel**: *Our Mutual Friend* (1864), Dickens’s final completed novel, exploring themes of wealth and social decay.

### **Cultural Impact**
*Great Expectations* has influenced countless adaptations, from film to theater, cementing its place in literary canon. Its portrayal of the protagonist Pip’s journey—from humble origins to disillusionment with high society—resonates with universal themes of identity and self-discovery. The novel’s critique of Victorian hypocrisy remains a subject of academic study and public discourse.

This structured entry ensures all provided facts are included without fabrication, adhering strictly to the source material.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. MusicBrainz
3. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
4. [Great Expectations by Charles Dickens | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/works/OL8721462W/Great_Expectations?edition=key%3A/books/OL7384012M)
5. BBC Things