Classic Retellings – Great Expectations: A Retelling

Carnegie Medal-winning author Tanya Landman returns with a brilliantly realised and truly accessible retelling of the book described as Dickens’ “most perfect” novel. My story is a long one with many strange events and dark turns. But time is short. I will be brief. In this slim volume I concentrate on five people. A dangerous criminal. An honest blacksmith. An abandoned bride. A girl who glittered like a distant star. And myself. Philip Pirrip, known as Pip, whose life was twisted and bent out of shape by all of them. Orphaned as baby, Pip is raised by his sister to live the simple life of a blacksmith’s boy. But a chance encounter in a graveyard and a visit to a ruined mansion set him on a different path. When a secret benefactor pays for him to become a gentleman, Pip’s life takes a greatly unexpected turn … In Great Expectations, Tanya Landman masterfully weaves a narrative that explores the themes of family, class, and social differences. This classic coming of age story is a must-read for teens, offering a poignant look at the virtues and values that shape us. For fans of Manon Steffan Ros (Greta), Karen M. Mcmanus (One of Us Is Back), and Kiran Millwood Hargrave (The Mercies). HarperCollins 2024