Great Expectations

Perhaps I need to be more forgiving reading historical fiction in the modern day, but Jesus, how many coincidences? Every single character introduced turned out to be related to another character from an entirely separate section of the plot. Apparently this was a big convention of the day (I know Dickens employs this in Oliver Twist, and similarly Bronte with Jane Eyre - “oh, these ENTIRELY RANDOM STRANGERS are actually my LONG LOST COUSINS!”) but it leaves me cold.

The writing is stunning, though. A bit overly-flowery at times, making the slower sections a trudge, but when he gets it right, Dickens nails it. As he does with the characterisation. Do you ever hate a self-promoting ass as much as you do Pumblechook? Or love a simpleton as you do Joe Gargery? Genius.