Part 1

Nearly nineteen-year-old Nicholas Nickleby suffers a change in fortunes when his father dies, leaving him, his sister Kate and his mother in financial need. They approach their distant uncle, the businessman Ralph Nickleby, for aid. After much consideration, and not before making enquiries through the family’s acquaintance Miss La Creevy, Ralph begrudgingly agrees to help them. He suggests that Nicholas should take a job as assistant schoolmaster at Dotheboys Hall, a school in Yorkshire run by one-eyed Mr Squeers.

Nicholas agrees on the condition that his mother and sister are cared for. The next day Ralph arranges a meeting with Squeers, who has come to London to collect pupils, and successfully persuades the schoolmaster to take Nicholas on. After departing from his uncle, Nicholas meets Newman Noggs, Ralph’s curious assistant. When Nicholas happily explains about his new position and change in fortune, Noggs reacts peculiarly but offers no explanation.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audible, Ltd