Books published by publisher Playmore

The hero in this story is an American boy, Harvey Cheyne, the son of a millionaire, spoiled but with the latent possibilities of manliness smothered by a pampered life. An accident opens a way to his better nature. In a fit of seasickness he falls from the deck of a big Atlantic liner, and is picked up by a dory from the Gloucester fishing schooner "We're Here" commanded by Disko Troop, a man of strong moral character and purpose. This skipper is unmoved by Harvey's tales of his father's wealth and importance, nor will he consent to take him back to New York until the fishing season is over. Instead he puts the boy to work at ten dollars a month. This enforced captivity is Harvey's regeneration. He learns the value of work, obedience, and good-will. He is sent back to his father as a boy really worth the expense of bringing up. Harvey's father returns the favor by securing Troop's son Dan a chance to rise as a seaman.

Like so many of Charles Dickens other books, Great Expections deals with the evil influence of money. It first appeared as a serial in a weekly magazine, with it's main character, Pip, telling the story of his life, from the time he is seven until he is an adult. We see Pip's "great expectations" out of life come to pass, as he undergoes a painful change in his values from selfish vanity to sympathy for others.