# Nicholas Nickleby

**Author:** Charles Dickens
**Tags:** England, Bildungsromans, Young men, Poor families, Picaresque literature, Boarding schools, Theatrical companies
**Price:** Free
**Formats:** DOCX, EPUB, FB2, PDF, TXT
**Downloads:** 53
**Added:** 10.07.2026
**URL:** https://samolit.com/books/96328

## Description

When Nicholas Nickleby’s father dies, leaving his family destitute, the young man, his mother, and sister Kate are thrust into the harsh realities of 19th-century England. They seek assistance from their wealthy but cold-hearted uncle, Ralph Nickleby, a man whose avarice knows no bounds. Ralph, however, quickly dispatches Nicholas to Dotheboys Hall, a notoriously brutal Yorkshire boarding school run by the monstrous Wackford Squeers, where neglected boys endure cruelty and starvation.

Unable to tolerate the abuse inflicted upon the students, particularly the vulnerable Smike, Nicholas heroically defies Squeers and flees with Smike. Their journey becomes a picaresque adventure through varied strata of society, from joining a colorful traveling theatrical company to encountering a rogues' gallery of eccentric characters and scheming villains. Nicholas strives to protect his family from his uncle's machinations and the dangers of a society riddled with injustice, all while seeking his fortune and a life of integrity amidst the profound class disparities of the era. This tale explores themes of perseverance, loyalty, and the enduring power of kindness in a world often defined by greed and hardship.