Great Expectations is a Victorian coming of age novel and remains one of the most popular books by Charles Dickens. The first person narrator, Pip is a down on his luck orphan who finds himself being forced to steal food for an escaped convict. He soon goes to work for a blacksmith and is given the opportunity to go to London to become a gentleman. To come from such humble beginnings and yet have the opportunity to raise his standard of living gives him great expectations. A true classic of literature.