Little Dorrit

Going back to the 19th century is one of my favourite books. 'Little Dorrit' by Charles Dickens, is a novel of self sacrifice, love and devotion. Like all of Dickens' works it was written to address social concerns of the day and bring them forward to the attention of the people as a whole. In the case of 'Little Dorrit', Dickens' explored and satirised the shortcomings of society and the government, leading to the creation of bureaucratic monster known as the Circumlocution Office.

The story revolves around the titular character, a young lady known affectionately by the name 'Little Dorrit'. Amy Dorrit (Little Dorrit) during the first part of the novel lives with her father in the infamous debtors prison 'The Marshalsea'. Her father, 'William Dorrit' had been imprisoned many years previously for debt that was now forgotten and only recorded in the Circumlocution Office.

Even with the shortcomings of her life and the destitute nature of her family, Little Dorrit still strives to make each of their lives better. Against all odds she organises and pushes her sister to support herself through learning to dance, her brother to find employment and herself to learn needlework, so that she can support her father.

But like all Dickens, the story is not just about the titular character. As the novel progresses, a web of interrelated characters form around Little Dorrit and influence the world she lives in.

One set of characters include the House of Clennam. The House of Clennam is a venerable trading business run by the elderly and chair bound Mrs Clennam, who has controlled the London interests of the business for many years as her husband and son look to the interests in Asia. With her, live servants Jeremiah and Affery Flintwinch who attend to all of her needs. But Mrs Clennam has secrets which begin to arise after the unexpected return of her son Arthur. Arthur is under a commission to present his mother with his recently deceased fathers' pocket watch, which inside contains a note with the mysterious letters DNF (Do not forget). In a chance meeting Arthur Clennam meets and befriends Little Dorrit while she is working as a needlewoman for Mrs Clennam. Arthur, intrigued by this young lady, works to determine the circumstances of her family and assist them if he can.

However these are not the only characters. Dickens provides a spectacular cast of intriguing and special characters from the tender Mr & Mrs Meagles, to Flora, Arthur Clennam's old love. From the imbecilic Edmund Sparkler to the formidable Mr & Mrs Merdles.
However sinister forces lurk inside this story. The perverse Ms Wade and the diabolical Rigaud threaten to ruin lives as they carry out their plots and schemes.

Little Dorrit is a spectacular literary work that pulls together numerous themes and in which Charles Dickens' binds his own experiences of debtors' prison. The story has the messages of hope, love, self sacrifice and devotion.
Little Dorrit was released in serialised form between the years 1855 & 1857 and was comprised of 20 instalments over that time. It is one of Dickens' most famous works.
Additionally in 2008 the BBC released an adaptation of Little Dorrit, starring Claire Foy and Matthew Macfayden. Below is a trailer.

It is available in both eBook and audiobook formats.

Little Dorrit Amazon.com: Little Dorrit Book
Little Dorrit Audible.com: Little Dorrit Audiobook

Brown, H K 1857, Little Dorrit Book Cover, image, Wikimedia Commons, viewed 1 November 2015, < https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Dorrit_-_Titlepage.jpg >.
"Little Dorrit" avatar (engraving) 1856, image, Wikimedia Commons, viewed 1 November 2015, < https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Little_Dorrit_avatar_1856.jpg