Plain narrative prose
Abstract
Even without technical fireworks, Dickens’ prose came to be an instrument he could use confidently to introduce or sustain effects not necessarily apparent in the matter of his writing. This becomes obvious in a comparison of the original with the revised ending of Great Expectations , when 30o words which concluded the predetermined plot had to be expanded to i000 to meet Bulwer Lytton’s suggestion that the book be given a happy ending. No new incident was introduced, but a nostalgic setting and lan- guid conversation cunningly slid the story away from a predictable dip into tragedy.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Short Stories in Global Literature
Oral History
Memory
Narrative Analysis
American Sports and Literature
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Routledge eBooks
- Pages
- 94–99
- Publication date
- 9 January 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter