First published 1857
Amy Dorrit has spent her entire life within the walls of Marshalsea debtors' prison, where her father William remains confined for his unpaid debts. Known as Little Dorrit for her small stature and gentle nature, Amy works as a seamstress to support her family while maintaining her father's dignity among fellow prisoners. Her world expands when she begins sewing for the Clennam household, where she meets Arthur Clennam, a middle-aged man recently returned from China who suspects his family harbors dark secrets. As Amy navigates between the prison's confines and London's broader society, she discovers that wealth and poverty can transform people in unexpected ways. When the Dorrit family's fortunes suddenly change, Amy must reconcile her humble origins with new circumstances while remaining true to her compassionate heart.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 19th-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, rags-to-riches
Setting: London, Marshalsea Debtors' Prison
Period: 19th Century
985 pages · Paperback · Penguin Classics