Dickens's Little Nell became one of his best-known heroines when The Old Curiosity Shop was first published in 1841. Virtuous and stoic, young Nell takes care of her grandfather in his gloomy shop until his gambling debts force the pair of them to flee London. They are hunted by the grotesque and villainous moneylender Quilp and Nell's own worthless brother, Fred, who wrongly believes that their grandfather has a hidden fortune.
Through a kaleidoscopic collection of people and events, Nell and her grandfather eventually reach a safe refuge, although neither of them is destined to enjoy it for long. The Old Curiosity Shop was an instant bestseller in its time and continues to captivate readers with its sharply drawn characters and heartfelt sentiment.
