'you are to understand; Mr. Pip; that the name of the person who is your liberal benefactor remains a profound secret...' Young Pip lives with his sister and her husband the blacksmith; with few prospects for advancement until a mysterious benefaction takes him from the Kent marshes to London. Pip is haunted by figures from his past - the escaped convict Magwitch; the time-withered Miss Havisham and her proud and beautiful ward; Estella - and in time uncovers not just the origins of his great expectations but the mystery of his own heart. A powerful and moving novel; Great Expectations is suffused with Dickens's memories of the past and its grip on the present; and it raises disturbing questions about the extent to which individuals affect each other's lives. This edition includes a lively introduction; Dickens's working notes; the novel's original ending; and an extract from an early theatrical adaptation. It reprints the definitive Clarendon text. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship; providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features; including expert introductions by leading authorities; helpful notes to clarify the text; up-to-date bibliographies for further study; and much more.