Correct option is B
Explanation:
Here is the chronological order of publication for the given novels by Charles Dickens:
Oliver Twist (1838)
- Oliver Twist was Dickens’s second novel, published in serial form from 1837 to 1839. It is about the life of an orphan named Oliver Twist and focuses on themes of poverty and child labor.
David Copperfield (1850)
- David Copperfield was serialized in 1849-1850 and is considered one of Dickens’s most autobiographical works. It follows the life of David Copperfield, focusing on his growth, struggles, and self-discovery.
Hard Times (1854)
- Hard Times was published in 1854 and is a critique of industrialization. It focuses on the lives of workers in the industrial age, especially in the fictional town of Coketown. The novel critiques the utilitarian mindset of the time.
A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
- A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1859 and is set during the French Revolution. It contrasts life in Paris and London, focusing on themes of revolution, sacrifice, and the effects of social injustice.
Great Expectations (1861)
- Great Expectations was serialized from 1860 to 1861. It follows the life of Pip, a young orphan, and his expectations for great wealth and social advancement, exploring themes of ambition, love, and disillusionment.
Information Booster:
Oliver Twist:
Oliver Twist is one of Charles Dickens's earliest and most influential novels.
It was first published in serial form from 1837 to 1839 in Bentley’s Miscellany and later as a book in 1839.
The novel centers on Oliver Twist, a young orphan who escapes a workhouse and falls into a life of crime and hardship in the harsh streets of London.
Dickens uses Oliver’s experiences to criticize the class system, child labor, and the treatment of orphans in Victorian England.
Through characters like the kind-hearted Mr. Brownlow, the sinister Fagin, and the cruel Bill Sikes, Dickens critiques social injustice and advocates for human compassion and social reform.
Oliver Twist also contains memorable quotes and introduces famous characters such as the Artful Dodger, Nancy, and Sikes—who have remained icons in English literature.
David Copperfield:
Published in serial form in 1849 and as a complete book in 1850, David Copperfield is one of Dickens's most autobiographical novels.
It follows the life of the protagonist, David Copperfield, from his early childhood through to adulthood.
The novel delves deeply into David’s personal development, his moral choices, and his relationships with key figures like the charming but dishonest Uriah Heep, his great aunt Betsey Trotwood, and his long-suffering mother.
Dickens draws heavily from his own life, especially in David’s struggles with family and the hardships he faces as a young man.
The novel is known for its rich characterizations and personal reflections on themes like class, identity, morality, and the effects of society on individual fate.
The full title of the book is The Personal History of David Copperfield, a nod to its semi-autobiographical nature. David Copperfield is often considered Dickens’s most personal work, and it marks the beginning of the mature phase in his writing.
Hard Times:
Hard Times was published in 1854, during the height of industrial revolution in England. The novel is a critique of industrialization, particularly of the factory system that prioritized facts and figures over emotion and imagination.
The novel is set in the fictional industrial town of Coketown and follows the lives of characters like Thomas Gradgrind, a utilitarian schoolmaster who values only practicality and reason; Louisa, his daughter, who is raised in an emotionally stunted environment; and Stephen Blackpool, a worker in a factory.
Hard Times explores the consequences of an over-rational, mechanized society, critiquing the exploitation of labor, class differences, and moral decay in Victorian England.
The novel is less about plot and more about Dickens's social critique, and it uses satire to highlight the negative effects of industrialization, urging society to remember the human side of progress and modernity.
A Tale of Two Cities:
A Tale of Two Cities was published in 1859 and is set during the turbulent period of the French Revolution.
Dickens contrasts the cities of Paris and London to depict the political and social upheaval of the time, focusing on the effects of the revolution on individual lives.
The novel follows Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, an English lawyer, who finds redemption through self-sacrifice.
The plot explores themes of resurrection, sacrifice, social justice, and the violent transformation of society during revolution.
A Tale of Two Cities is famous for its opening line: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times," encapsulating the dualities of the period.
Dickens’s novel emphasizes the importance of justice, equality, and personal transformation, while critiquing social injustice and the impact of inequality in society.
Great Expectations:
Great Expectations was first serialized in 1860-1861 and is one of Dickens’s most complex novels.
It follows the life of Pip, a young orphan who dreams of becoming a gentleman and falling in love with the beautiful Estella.
Throughout the novel, Pip learns that wealth and status do not equate to happiness or self-worth.
The novel explores themes of ambition, identity, love, guilt, and class in Victorian England. Through Pip’s personal journey, Dickens critiques the social class system and the pursuit of material wealth.
The character of Miss Havisham, who lives in her decaying mansion, and Estella, her ward, have become literary icons.
The story also involves a rich cast of characters, including the convict Magwitch, the lawyer Jaggers, and the loyal friend Joe Gargery.
Great Expectations is often regarded as Dickens’s greatest novel due to its complex narrative structure, deep character development, and its rich exploration of human emotions.
English
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