Summary

Little Dorrit, published in 1857, is one of Charles Dickens's later novels and considered among his finest works. Set in London in the 1820s, it tells the story of Amy Dorrit, born and raised in the Marshalsea debtors' prison, and her relationship with Arthur Clennam, a middle-aged man searching for the truth about his family's past. The novel offers a scathing critique of society, government bureaucracy, and the prison system in Victorian England.

Plot

Arthur Clennam returns to London after 20 years in China to find his mother employing a young seamstress named Amy Dorrit. Amy was born in Marshalsea debtors' prison, where her father William Dorrit has been imprisoned for some 20 years. Arthur takes an interest in the Dorrit family and tries to help them, while also investigating a long-held family secret involving a watch left by his late father. Meanwhile, the villainous Rigaud blackmails Mrs. Clennam over this secret.

With help from rent collector Mr. Pancks, Arthur discovers that William Dorrit is the heir to a fortune. This allows the Dorrits to leave prison and travel Europe as a wealthy family, though Amy struggles to adjust to their new lifestyle. Arthur invests in the business of inventor Daniel Doyce, but both are financially ruined when the corrupt financier Mr. Merdle's investment empire collapses. Arthur is imprisoned in the Marshalsea, where Amy nurses him back to health.

The truth of Mrs. Clennam's past and the family secret is eventually revealed, involving Arthur's true parentage and an inheritance meant for Amy Dorrit. Mrs. Clennam, paralyzed for years, rushes out to confess to Amy but collapses in the street. To protect Arthur, Amy chooses not to claim the inheritance. In the end, Arthur is released from prison with his fortunes restored, and he and Amy are married.

Themes

• Imprisonment and freedom

• Social class and status

• Corruption and bureaucracy

• Family relationships and duty

• Love and sacrifice

• Wealth and poverty

• Identity and self-discovery

Setting

Set in mid-19th century England, Little Dorrit unfolds against the backdrop of Victorian London and its surrounding areas. The story primarily takes place in the 1820s and 1830s, a period marked by social inequality, industrialization, and the harsh realities of debtors' prisons.

Much of the novel's action centers around the Marshalsea debtors' prison in Southwark, London, where the Dorrit family resides. Charles Dickens vividly portrays the grim conditions and societal stigma associated with these institutions. Beyond the prison walls, the narrative unfolds in various London locales, from the affluent neighborhoods of the upper classes to the squalid tenements of Bleeding Heart Yard.

The story also ventures beyond England's shores, with portions set in Marseilles, France, and other European destinations as the characters travel abroad. These international settings provide a stark contrast to the confines of the Marshalsea and highlight the changing fortunes of the Dorrit family. Throughout the novel, Dickens uses these diverse settings to explore themes of imprisonment, both literal and metaphorical, within the rigid social structures of Victorian society.

Characters

• Amy Dorrit (Little Dorrit): The kind-hearted and selfless youngest child of William Dorrit, who is born in Marshalsea prison. She works as a seamstress to support her father.

• Arthur Clennam: A kind middle-aged man who returns to London after years in China and takes an interest in helping the Dorrit family. He becomes the love interest for Amy.

• William Dorrit: Amy's father, who is imprisoned in the Marshalsea for debt. He adopts airs of grandeur as the long-time “Father of the Marshalsea."

• Mrs. Clennam: Arthur's stern, religious stepmother, who is confined to her house due to illness. She harbors dark family secrets.

• Jeremiah Flintwinch: Mrs. Clennam's scheming servant and later business partner. He is involved in the family's past misdeeds.

• Rigaud/Blandois: A villainous French criminal who blackmails Mrs. Clennam after learning her secrets.

• John Baptist Cavalletto: An Italian man befriended by Arthur who helps track down Rigaud.

• Mr. Pancks: A rent collector who uncovers the Dorrit family fortune. He befriends Arthur and helps expose Mr. Casby.

• Flora Finching: Arthur's former fiancée, who still holds feelings for him. She provides comic relief with her rambling speeches.

• Daniel Doyce: An inventor who becomes Arthur's business partner and is frustrated by bureaucracy.

Quick facts

• Little Dorrit was originally published in 19 monthly installments between 1855 and 1857. Each installment cost one shilling, except for the final double issue, which cost two shillings.

• The Marshalsea debtors' prison is central to the plot, representing both literal and figurative imprisonment.

• Like the fictional William Dorrit, Charles Dickens's father served time in the Marshalsea debtors' prison.

• The character of “Little” Amy Dorrit was inspired by Mary Ann Cooper, a childhood friend of Dickens whom he sometimes called by that diminutive term of endearment. 

• In addition to criticizing the institution of debtors’ prisons and exposing class inequities, the novel is a critique of the British Treasury and blunders that led to losses in the Crimean War.

• Dickens satirizes bureaucratic inefficiency through the Circumlocution Office in the novel.

• The novel is divided into two books, “Poverty” and “Riches,” mirroring the Dorrit family's changing fortunes.

• Little Dorrit is considered one of Dickens's more complex novels. It shares themes of social injustice with works like Oliver Twist and Bleak House but is noted for its intricate plot and deeper character development.

• The illustrations for Little Dorrit were done by Hablot Knight Browne, who used the pen name “Phiz.”

• Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a big fan of the novel.

• Franz Kafka admired the book and sent a copy to his fiancée, Felice Bauer.

• Little Dorrit has inspired several screen adaptations, including a 1987 film featuring Alec Guinness as William Dorrit and a critically acclaimed 2008 BBC miniseries starring Claire Foy as Little Dorrit and Matthew Macfadyen as Arthur Clennam.

About the Author

Charles Dickens was one of the most popular and influential English novelists of the Victorian era. He began his career as a journalist before achieving fame with his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, in 1837. He went on to write numerous beloved and acclaimed classics including Oliver Twist, A Christmas Carol, David Copperfield, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two  Cities, and Bleak House. Dickens's vivid characters, intricate plots, and sharp social commentary made him immensely popular with readers across class lines during his lifetime.

Born in 1812 in Portsmouth, Dickens endured a difficult childhood that included working in a factory at age 12 when his father was imprisoned for debt. His early experiences profoundly influenced his writing. A master of serialized fiction, Dickens would publish most of his major novels in monthly or weekly installments, building suspense with cliffhanger endings that kept Victorian readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter. His writing style was marked by a flair for caricature, flights of fancy, and sentimental scenes juxtaposed with harsh social realities. Through his fiction, Dickens powerfully depicted the ills of Victorian society and championed social reform.

Beyond his literary output, Dickens was a tireless performer who captivated audiences with dramatic readings from his works. He undertook numerous reading tours in Britain and America that further cemented his fame. Dickens died in 1870 at age 58, leaving his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished.