Manga Classics: Great Expectations

The rich are different, and not better, than the poor. More timely than ever!

Charles Dickens classic novel, Great Expectations, is reformatted into a manga. The result is an excellent way to convince teens to read a classic tale.

Great Expectations is the story of Pip, a pleasant helpful child, who is thrown into high society in the early 1800s. Young Pip is randomly called to entertain and assist rich, old and crazy Miss Havisham. There he falls in love with her stepdaughter, Estella, and even more with the idea of being a gentleman. Once old enough Pip becomes an apprentice blacksmith under his brother-in-law. But greater adventures await Pip as he receives news that an anonymous benefactor is paying for him to become a London gentleman. He has Great Expectations now.

Personally I have tried slogging through the original 500 page novel and never made it even 10% in. This graphic novel makes reading the plot entertaining and faster though it is also over 300 pages long. The artwork makes keeping the multitude of characters easily recognized.

I chose this version of Great Expectations because I have great memories of reading Classics Illustrated comics when I was a child. This manga gives the exact same feeling of making a great story accessible to modern readers. Great Expectations, the manga, is highly recommended for students who want more entertainment and enjoyment than simply reading the wiki. It is also recommended for adult readers who have always been curious about Dickens' story but don't want to invest 10+ hours to read the book.

Thanks to the publisher, Udon, and netgalley for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of Manga Classics: Great Expectations from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I love the concept of Manga Classics; I just can’t say that enough. Not only is the artwork beautiful, but it makes classics such as Great Expectations more approachable for so many readers. I’m steadily working my way through all the Manga Classics I can get my hands on; regardless of whether or not I’ve read the original versions. I sincerely hope Udon Entertainment continues to publish these works, as they’re just absolutely beautiful and brilliant.
I remember laboring my way through this beast of a book back in middle school. And I was one of the only kids in my class to actually finish the book (as opposed to pretending they did and hoping for the best). I can’t imagine how much something like Manga Classics would have helped back then. While there have always been ways to sneak around actually reading a classic, most of those methods will only give you facts, not an idea for the feel of the book or the manner of its characters. Manga Classics bridges that gap, allowing for a shorter (and sometimes more pleasant read) while keeping true to the story, characters, and intents the author has established.
Great Expectations is one of those stories that’s basically been begging for an adaptation like this, I just never realized it until I read the manga version. Suddenly I found myself reading the core of the plot, getting right to the vital points of the story. A lot of the verbal descriptions were cut from the book (to make it fit of course) but the artwork more than makes up for that. Most of the images contain the intended details anyway, so there’s no real loss when one looks at it like that.
I greatly enjoyed reading through Great Expectations for the second time, and found myself finishing it in only a couple of sittings. This is the perfect adaptation for anybody that’s either wanted to read the original but hasn’t, or has wanted to reread it again but can’t see to find the time.

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens has long been a favorite of mine so when I noticed a Manga edition available on Netgalley, I had to pick it up and check it out. This edition, written and illustrated by Stacy King, Crystal S. Chan and Nokman Poon, as well as Charles Dickens himself of course, is a lovely introduction to classic literature for the uninitiated. The illustrations have a simplicity to them which lends an authenticity to the subject matter and the monochrome colour scheme is reminiscent of publications of the era.

Great Expectations is a rag-to-riches story following the life of an orphan named Pip who comes into money from a mysterious benefactor. I won’t go into great detail about the actual storyline here as I encourage everyone to go and read it for themselves! Many people can feel daunted about reading classics however so this edition offers a easier approach. By necessity, it only offers the bare bones of the story but it’s enough to get a taste for Dickens’ writing.

I rated this book 4/5 as while I believe it is very good, I did miss the nuance and the detail which comes from reading the original. In saying that, I’d happily recommend this book to anyone.

I should also mention that as this in a Manga edition it is read from back to front and right to left. This was my first time reading in this format but it was easy to get the hang of and didn’t detract from the experience at all.

I received an eARC copy of Great Expectations by Stacy King and @mangaclassics, so a huge thank-you to @netgalley and @udonent. This book is already published, so if you are interested I highly suggest picking up a copy
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While browsing through Netgalley, I came across this super fun Manga / Graphic Novel series that are retellings of classic fiction and I am just so excited!! I read Great Expectations first but honestly can’t wait to look into the others in the series as well. The art is so pretty! I read the original Great Expectations by Charles Dickens for the first time in tenth grade for school, but I have read it at least three times since then because I enjoy it so much. Getting to experience the story through a different media style was such a fun experience. I would definitely suggest this series to any Classic Fiction fans!

Thanks to NetGalley and UDON Entertainment for the opportunity to read and review Manga Classics! Manga Classics include Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, which is true to the original classic with added cliffhangers to keep manga readers interested and eye-catching illustrations. After the story ends, the details of adaptation from classic literature to manga lets us see into the transformation. Each story in this collection follows these same guidelines! Impressive artwork and transformation!
Manga Classics also include The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling, Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (the only color is the scarlet letter A, which makes striking illustrations!), Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, The Stories of Edgar Allan Poe: The Tell-Tale Heart, The Raven. The Cask of Amontillado, The Masque of the Red death and The Fall of the House of Usher; Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen, Great Expectations by Charles Dickens and many more!
5 stars for books that make classics accessible and understandable to every reader!

This graphic novel will be perfect for those who need help understanding Dickens' writing. I remember being confused when I first read it all those years ago. As I read this, it actually helped my reading comprehension and understand some passages I didn't get as a teen.

I literally just finished a re-read of the original Dickens, and I still can't tell if any real artistic liberties were taken here. Why can't my brain process classics? What is wrong with me?

Nevertheless, I really and truly enjoyed this manga. I'd read the similarly done version of The Scarlet Letter and was so blown away, so I was really excited for this one. And I think this is a must-read for anyone who, like me, isn't quite intelligent enough to read, understand, and enjoy classic novels.

The artwork is so gorgeous. Estella is breath taking, and Miss Haversham is beyond intimidating and actually kind of scary in some parts. The language and storyline flow so smoothly, it doesn't feel like you even need to have read the original. Kids needing to do book reports, maybe take note?

There are a few more of these Manga Classics out there, and I really want to get on the ball and read those originals so I can enjoy the Mangas, as well. Maybe I'll read the manga versions first, actually.

I have already read three books of this series and they are all extraordinary, as soon as I finish one I immediately want to read another one and especially to read the original. The plot is summarized in a perfect way: it is flowing, clear and compelling, the characters are well defined and characterized.
I have not yet finished reading the original novel by Dickens but for what I've read the plot is faithful to it.
For those unfamiliar with the work of Dickens is the story of Pip, a poor orphan raised by his sister and his brother-in-law, in love with Estella, a girl with a heart of stone. He will try to redeem himself and become a gentleman for her but will he succeed in conquering her?
I loved all the characters but Joe and Biddy were extraordinary: sweet, generous, loving. The drawings are well done, perfectly able to convey the emotions of the characters and very beautiful scenary.

I definitely recommend it to young people who approach for the first time to this classic or to those people who are terrified of it but it's good for everyone.

The last time I read Great Expectations was in one of my high school English classes and I remember not being a fan of it. I really enjoyed this Manga and the storyline! In high school, I remember not being able to get into the story because of all of the descriptions. I am a very straightforward person and it definitely led me astray from the theme of the book. This was very enjoyable because the reader was able to find description in the art, but, in this case, actually added to the story, for me. Maybe I’ll take one more crack at the novel because I had such a positive experience with this Manga!

We start in the early nineteen century following Pip browsing through a churchyard in rural Kent, England. While perusing, an escaped prisoner looking for some food stops him and demands to see Pip’s parents, however, Pip lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband. Pip sees the man taken into custody and later is sent to live at Miss Havisham’s house.

Miss Havisham is a bipolar, old lady who still lives in her past when she was to be married. As a revenge of sorts, she has a young girl, Estrella, make Pip fall in love with her. But, the more time that Pip spends at Miss Havisham’s, the more he wants to live a life like the elite.

In his favor, Pip receives a message that he will fall into an inheritance, so he starts living like he always dreamed. He assumes Miss Havisham is behind this.

One day, an old friend visits, and he treats him like a commoner. When in reality, this friend was just delivering a message that benefited no one else but Pip. Ugh! He is so intolerable and probably the worst character ever created!

Who is Pip’s benefactor? What is the deal with Estrella? What is the relationship of everyone in the story? Will Pip ever realize his actions and change back to his old self? What price will Pip pay to reach his aspirations?

I loved this movie and I loved this graphic novel. I read A Christmas Carol every year, but have never been able to read any other Dickens novel as it was originally set. This book made me want to watch the movie again.

From the moment I started reading on my own, I wanted to read Great Expectations, because since I was a teenager, I was obsessed with the movie directed by Alfonso Cuarón, and in which Ethan Hawke and Gwyneth Paltrow were the perfect Finn/Pip and Estella respectively. To me it was a love story that didn’t end up well and it seemed more realistic that those RomComs everybody seemed to love.

So, back in 2015 I tried reading the book, but I never finished it. The Spanish translation wasn’t really good and it seemed that it would be one of those classics I’d hate. So, I just let it be. I mean, Dickens is known for his stories, and I knew that at some point, I would try to finish it, perhaps in another edition.

Earlier this month, I found that there are Manga adaptations of several classic books and I was thrilled. Manga is a format that is easier to consume and so, I gave Great Expectations another chance.

Fortunately, from the very beginning I was drawn to the story because our young protagonist never had it easy. He was an unschooled orphan, and the only friend he had was Joe, the kind blacksmith, his sister’s husband –I mean, not even his sister treated him good.

But one day, Phillip, aka Pip, has a life-changing event: he meets a prisoner that just escaped, and he helps him by giving him bread, despite being terrified of him.

Just around the same time, he meets Mrs. Havisham, one of the wealthiest person in the little town he lives. The thing is, the woman is a little bit crazy since she was abandoned by a man who she thought was the love of her life. Ever since, she became a wretched existence filled with hatred and jealousy of those who experienced true love.

Estella, her adopted daughter, was the same age as Pip, and so, Mrs. Havisham had them play together, for her own amusement. Pip liked Estella, and thought she was never kind to him, he just liked her for being pretty and unreachable.

And so, as they grow up, he never stops feeling that attraction towards her and he even dares calling it love. Still, Estella always treats him bad, like he will never be worthy of her. Her poisonous persona is the result of Mrs. Havisham’s own broken heart but none of them seemed to realize this until they’re adults.

On the other hand, there is someone interested in Pip’s growth: this anonymous person hires a lawyer so Pip can be taught about manners, economy and ultimately, how to be a gentleman instead of the apprentice of a poor blacksmith.

Now, as you can imagine, Pip develops his potential, but in the process, he forgets about Joe and his sister, who later suffers and attack that ends up in her death. Pip basically wants to erase his past, all the things that made him embarrassing and not worthy of Estella (his obsession and idealization towards her are truly insane).

He grows into a gentleman of sorts and he eventually meets his benefactor but, oh, what are the odds that every character is connected to one another? They all have part in this story and they made me thing that life is full of ironies and bad jokes.

To me, Great Expectations is the story of a man that experienced the duality of people: on one side we have kindness from Joe, one of his friends and his benefactor; but on the other side, he experiences the obsession of unrequired love and coldness from the girl he’s ever liked.

This book left me with the lesson that you always affect the lives of the people around you, even when you don’t notice; and that one small act of kindness can change somebody’s whole world. That we have to learn from our mistakes and we have to open our eyes when somebody is just not into us. There is a lot of drama of course, but I really think that this classic is worth reading –at least the manga adaptation is.

I want to add that the artist made a terrific job portraying all the different shades and personalities of these characters. I really think Joe deserved the world, and we need more people like him in real life, whilst Mrs. Havisham is just deplorable, but hey, all villains have their own story to tell.

I would totally recommend you to read this in case you don’t feel like the original work might be for you. I promise you, this is so much better and far more entertaining.

I remember having to read great expectations for university and finding iy quite boring but I loved this manga adaptation! I won't talk about the story as everyone knows it at this point, but I loved how it was told quick to the point, and I loved the illustrations. These books would be a brilliant way to introduce children to classic literature!