Nancy’s Reviews > Nicholas Nickleby > Status Update

Things are happening fast and furious!
Ch 51 Mr Gride is preparing for the wedding too ...(??) in 48 hours.
Ch 52 Nicholas tries to persuade the bride (??) NOT to go to the ceremony
Ch 53 Nicholas attempts to bribe Mr Gride NOT to marry Miss B.
Time is running out for poor Nicholas who is besotted with Miss B.

Approaching the last chapters....and the pace and surprises increase!
We bid adieu to the FUNNIEST characters in the book Mr/Mrs. Crummel and their band of merry thespians!
Budding romances are revealed...
Two gentlemen quarrel....there is a deadly duel with pistols!

Ch 45-46-47 Pattern in he books by Dickens: after reading 75% of the book suddenly the reader discovers MAJOR PLOT TWISTS! Through eavesdropping, secret letter a father riddled with debt... a dastardly plot to gain money by means of a forced marriage!

3 chapters...full of mystery!
Ch 42 - who helps Smike escape from DoTheBoys School?
Ch 43 - who is the young man that Nicholas meets in the tavern ?
Ch 44 - who is the old begger who confronts Mr Raph Nickelby in the street? who is leaving in the coach with Squeers/Ralph/mystery man
who meets Newman Noggs...(bigger again)...tell him some news and
Noggs listens carefully. CLIFFHANGER!

Ch 39 Smile escapes the "grip of Squeers"...with the help on an old friend!
Ch 40 Nicholas fall in love....wit the help of Noggs tries to meet her.
Mystery: who is she?
Ch 41 Mrs. Nickelby is approached by the besotted neighbour with worlds of love....but people tell Mrs N the man is crazy! She does not believe this b/c "...there is too much method to his madness!
Mystery: who is he?

Ch 36 - Mr/Mrs Kenwigs hear that Uncle Lillyvick has married actress Miss Petowker. Mrs. K faints....b/c she knows there will no inheritance for her daughter!
Ch 37 - Bros. Cheeryble celebrate their old clerks' birthday . Mrs Nickelby has received proposal of marriage from neighbour!
Ch 38 - Mr Squeers kidnaps Smike from a London street...beats him and locks him up in his lodging until returning to DoTheBoys School.

These chapters reveal a turning point in Nicholas's life!
Ch - 33 Nicholas rescues his sister and sends letter to uncle: "You are no family of ours, you wretch!"
Ch 34 Ralph Nickeby (uncle) continues to lend money and earn money. He tears up NN's letter and is very angry.
Ch 35 Good news! The jolly and rich Cheeryble Brothers (Ned and Charles) hire NN in accounting house + give Kate and Mrs. N a cottage to live in.

Ch 30 - Nicholas leaves Mr Crummles group of thespians....his last performance to the chagrin on many ladies in the company!
Ch 31 - Noggs and Miss La Creevey and ready to welcome Nicholas back to London but must be careful that NN does not lash out when he hears of his sister's predicament.
Ch 32 - NN hears in hotel coffee room 4 men talking about his sister ....NN is livid!

Ch 27 - Kate is being harrassed by Sir Mulberry Hawk
Ch 28 - Uncle Ralph will not criticise his "business" partner Mulberry and refuses to help his niece. Ralph: "We all have our trials....and this one is one of yours." Kindly Newman Noggs comforts Kate and promises to help her.
CH 29 Noggs sends a letter to Nicholas Nickelby...your sister needs your help!

Ch 24 - Nicholas begins his training as an actor with Mr. Crummles.
Ch 25 - Long chapters descripbing the unexpected marriage of the actress Miss Petowker with the old wealthy gentleman Mr. Lillyvick!
Ch 26 - Sir Mulberry Hawk fancies Miss Kate Nickelby and does his best to make her formal acquaintance.