Have you heard of the novel The Old Curiosity Shop? The novel is about Little Nell Trent and the evil Quilp.
Little Nell’s grandfather gambles away his curiosity shop to his creditor Quilp. The grandfather and granddaughter are left with no other option but to run away. Nell’s friend Kit Nubbles and a mysterious Single Gentleman attempt to find them but are thwarted by Quilp. The Single Gentleman turns out to be the wealthy brother of Nell’s grandfather. The novel ends on a sad note; Little Nell dies and her heartbroken grandfather dies days later.
Queen Victoria read The Old Curiosity Shop in 1841 and found it ‘very interesting and cleverly written’. The novel was popular beyond measure; it is said that readers in New York stormed the dock when the ship bearing the final installment arrived in 1841!
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