"This is the last book by the English scholar Bernard Schilling. A compact survey of all the novels by Charles Dickens, it shows the unity of the whole body of work by reviewing basic scenes and images in the novels. It is the result of many years of reading and teaching Dickens, and demonstrates a thorough familiarity with Victorian literature in general. The book argues that Great Expectations is the novel which brings together all the main themes of Dickens' vision. Schilling's affectionate treatment of the characters found with Dickens' world will appeal to anyone interested in English literature, and is a fitting final work by a master of prose himself."--BOOK JACKET.