Nicholas Nickleby, Charles Dickens's third novel (1838–1839), follows a young man whose father's sudden death leaves his family penniless. Nicholas, his mother, and sister Kate seek help from their cold, scheming uncle Ralph in London. Sent to teach at Dotheboys Hall, a brutal Yorkshire school run by the cruel Wackford Squeers, Nicholas befriends the mistreated Smike and flees with him. After adventures with a theatrical troupe and work with the benevolent Cheeryble brothers, Nicholas protects Kate from villains and falls in love with Madeline Bray. When Ralph's darkest secret—that Smike is his abandoned son—is exposed, he dies in despair, leaving Nicholas to happiness.
