The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop, serialized in 1840 and 1841, is the novel for which Charles Dickens's American readers waited at the docks. Little Nell Trent lives with her grandfather in his shop of odd antiques; when his secret gambling ruins them and puts them in the power of the moneylender Daniel Quilp, the two flee London and wander on foot through the Midlands, meeting a traveling Punch and Judy show, waxworks and racecourse crowds, while Quilp pursues them. Around this journey Dickens sets the comedy of the law clerk Dick Swiveller and the servant he names the Marchioness, and the grotesque malice of Quilp, one of his most memorable villains. Nell's fate was mourned by a whole generation. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read The Old Curiosity Shop online?
Yes. The Old Curiosity Shop opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is The Old Curiosity Shop free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of The Old Curiosity Shop is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is The Old Curiosity Shop in the public domain?
Yes. The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read The Old Curiosity Shop?
About 14 h 26 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is The Old Curiosity Shop?
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
