Summary
The Old Curiosity Shop is one of Charles Dickens's most beloved and controversial novels. First published in serial form between 1840-1841, it tells the heart-wrenching tale of Little Nell Trent and her grandfather as they flee from the villainous dwarf Daniel Quilp. Dickens's sentimental portrayal of Little Nell's plight and suffering deeply moved Victorian audiences, reportedly causing grown men to weep openly. Later, critics like Oscar Wilde famously mocked the novel's pathos. Despite such criticism, The Old Curiosity Shop remains one of Dickens's most popular works, admired for its vivid characters and gripping narrative.
Plot
The Old Curiosity Shop follows Nell Trent, a virtuous young girl who lives with her grandfather in his curiosity shop in London. Her grandfather, obsessed with providing Nell a good inheritance, secretly gambles away their money and borrows heavily from the evil dwarf moneylender Daniel Quilp. When Quilp seizes the shop, Nell and her grandfather flee London to live as beggars in the English Midlands.
Meanwhile, Nell's wastrel brother Frederick convinces his friend Dick Swiveller to help track down Nell, believing she has a fortune. They join forces with Quilp, who knows there is no fortune but sadistically wants to cause misery. As Nell and her grandfather journey through England, they encounter various characters both kind and evil. Quilp continues trying to hunt them down.
Back in London, the kindhearted Kit, who once worked at the curiosity shop, finds new employment with the Garland family. A mysterious “single gentleman” contacts Kit looking for news of Nell. Kit is later framed for theft by Quilp but proven innocent with help from Dick Swiveller and a servant girl nicknamed “the Marchioness.” Quilp dies while trying to escape his pursuers.
Eventually, Mr. Garland learns Nell's location and sets out with Kit and the single gentleman, who is revealed to be Nell's great-uncle, to find her. By the time they arrive, however, Nell has died from the hardships of her journey. Her grandfather, mentally unstable, spends his days sitting by her grave until he passes away a few months later.
Themes
Good vs evil
The effects of gambling addiction
The journey as a metaphor for life
The power of friendship and loyalty
Social injustice and poverty in Victorian England
The idealization of childhood and death
Setting
The Old Curiosity Shop is set in England in the 1820s, during the early Victorian era. The story primarily takes place in London and the English Midlands, reflecting the stark contrasts between urban and rural life during this period of rapid industrialization and social change.
The titular curiosity shop is located in London, likely inspired by a 16th-century building in Holborn that still stands. As Nell and her grandfather flee the city, the novel depicts various towns and villages across the Midlands, including Warwick, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton. Their journey provides Dickens the opportunity to paint a vivid portrait of England's diverse landscapes and communities.
The final scenes unfold in the village of Tong, Shropshire, where Nell and her grandfather find refuge. This picturesque rural setting, with its ancient church and tranquil surroundings, serves as a poignant contrast to the grim urban environments encountered earlier in the novel. Through these varied locales, Dickens crafts a rich tapestry of early 19th-century English life, from bustling city streets to pastoral countryside.
Characters
Nell Trent: The protagonist, a young woman around 14 years old. Virtuous, innocent, and selfless, Nell cares for her grandfather and leads him on their journey to escape poverty. Her health gradually declines as she sacrifices herself for others. Nell embodies purity and goodness in the face of hardship.
Nell's Grandfather: Nell's unnamed guardian who is obsessed with providing her an inheritance. He develops a gambling addiction trying to win money for Nell, falling into debt with Quilp. After a mental breakdown, he becomes unstable, and Nell must protect him. His love for Nell is his defining characteristic, though it leads to their downfall.
Daniel Quilp: The primary villain. A malicious, deformed dwarf moneylender who delights in others' suffering. He takes over the curiosity shop and pursues Nell and her grandfather. Quilp is cruel, manipulative and sadistic, tormenting his wife and all those around him for his own amusement.
Christopher “Kit” Nubbles: Nell's loyal friend and servant. Kindhearted and honest, Kit looks out for Nell and later finds work with the Garlands. He is framed for theft by Quilp but eventually cleared. Kit represents goodness and devotion.
Richard “Dick” Swiveller: A carefree, literature-quoting young man who undergoes a transformation. Initially Frederick's manipulated friend, he later becomes a force for good, helping free Kit and caring for the Marchioness. Dick provides comic relief and demonstrates redemption is possible.
The Single Gentleman: Nell's grandfather's estranged younger brother, who searches for the pair. He is key to the plot and represents familial loyalty and persistence.
Mrs. Betsy Quilp: Daniel Quilp's mistreated wife who fears but seems to love him. She worries when he disappears, showing complexity in their toxic relationship.
Sampson Brass: An unethical, groveling attorney employed by Quilp. He assists in framing Kit for robbery at Quilp's urging.
The Marchioness: The abused servant girl befriended by Dick Swiveller. She helps prove Kit's innocence and eventually marries Dick, representing hope for a better life.
Quick facts
The Old Curiosity Shop was originally published as a weekly serial from 1840 to 1841 in Dickens's periodical Master Humphrey's Clock.
The excitement surrounding the conclusion of the serialized story was unprecedented, with American readers reportedly storming the docks in New York awaiting the final installment.
The character of Little Nell was based in part on Dickens's sister-in-law Mary Hogarth, who died at age 17.
The Old Curiosity Shop was Dickens's first novel to feature a child as the central character.
Queen Victoria read the novel in 1841 and found it “very interesting and cleverly written."
Oscar Wilde famously quipped that “one must have a heart of stone to read the death of little Nell without laughing."
A shop in London named “The Old Curiosity Shop” claims to be the inspiration for the book, though it was actually named after the novel's publication.
The novel follows Nell and her grandfather's journey through real locations in England, including London, Birmingham, and Shropshire.
The villainous character of Quilp is considered one of Dickens's most memorable and grotesque creations.
The Old Curiosity Shop inspired a 1975 American musical film titled Mr. Quilp, which attempted to replicate the success of Oliver! but was ultimately unsuccessful.
An anime adaptation called Wandering Girl Nell aired in Japan from 1979 to 1980.
In 2007, the BBC produced a television film version, starring Derek Jacobi and Toby Jones.
About the Author
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) 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, Nicholas Nickleby, 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 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 at age 58, leaving his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, unfinished.
