Great Expectations is a novel by the English writer Charles Dickens that was first published serially starting in 1860 AD, then published in its entirety in 1861 AD. It is considered one of Dickens's best works and one of his most popular novels, and has been embodied on stage and screen more than 250 times.
The novel follows the pattern of a bildungsroman, in which the writer follows the story of a man or woman in her quest to mature, usually from childhood to adulthood.
Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, an orphan boy, from his early childhood to adulthood and his attempt to realize nobility during his life. Its events take place from Christmas Eve 1812 AD, when the hero of the story was seven years old, until the winter of 1840 AD. The novel can be considered a semi-autobiographical story by the writer, like many of his works, in which he draws from his experience in life and with people.
The narrator was first published serially in a British magazine throughout the year from December 1, 1860 to August 1861 AD. Two chapters of the story were published each time, and the author left his readers eager to know what was to come but at the same time satisfied their curiosity. The complete novel was published for the first time in July 1861 AD.