NicholasNicklebyisCharlesDickens'sthirdpublishednovel.Originallypublishedasaserialfrom1838to1839.ThestorywassetinnineteenthcenturyEngland.WhenNicholasNickleby'sfatherdiesandleaveshisfamilydestitute,hisuncle,thegreedymoneylender,RalphNickleby,findsNicholasajobteachinginarepulsiveschoolinYorkshire.Nicholasfleestheschooltakingwithhimoneofthepersecutedboys,Smike,andtheyjoinatroopofactors.NicholasthenhastoprotectSmike,whiletryingtostophisUncleRalphtakingadvantageofhissisterKate,andlaterhissweetheart,MadelineBray,whosefatherisindebtorsprison.Ayoung,compassionatemanstrugglestosavehisfamilyandfriendsfromtheabusiveexploitationofhiscold-hearted,graspinguncle.AftermanyadventuresNicholasfinallytriumphsoverhisUncle,althoughhissuccessisalsotingedwithsadness.TheseriesofadventurousembarkedonbyNicholasandSmikeencounterswithanarrayofhumanity'sworstandbest—greedyfools,corruptlechers,cheeryinnocents,andselflessbenefactors.