内容简介
Inthemarshymistsofavillagechurchyard,atinyorphanboynamedPipissuddenlyterrifiedbyashivering,limpingconvictontherun.Yearslater,asupremelyarrogantyoungPipboardsthecoachtoLondonwhere,bythegraceofamysteriousbenefactor,hewilljointheranksoftheidlerichand"becomeagentleman."Finally,intheluminousmistsofthevillageatevening,PipthemanmeetsEstella,hisdazzinglybeautifultormentor,inaruinedgarden--andlaystorestalltheheartachesandillusionsthathis"greatexpectations"havebroughtuponhim.Dickens'sbiographer,EdgarH.Johnson,hassaidthat--exceptfortheauthor'slast-minutetamperingwithhisoriginalending--GreatExpectationsis"themostperfectlyconstructedandperfectlywrittenofallDickens'sworks."InJohnIrving'sIntroductiontothisedition,thenovelisttakestheviewthatDickens'srevisedendingis"farmorethatmirrorofthequalityoftrustinthenovelasawhole."Bothversionsoftheendingareprintedhere.