Television scriptwriter Tony Jordan examines Charles Dickens' novel Great Expectations in this episode of The Secret Life of Books. He visits the Kent marshes of Dickens's childhood, and the museum that houses Dickens's original manuscript where he discusses the edited ending of Great Expectations with Dr. Holly Furneaux. At Gad's Hill Place where Dickens lived in 1856, we hear about the hidden affair that may have influenced the tragic tone and edited ending of his famous novel. Jordan demonstrates the audience allure of the cliffhanger, perfected by Dickens and suggests the influence of Dickens's childhood on the dashed expectations of Pip.

Streaming video file encoded with permission for digital streaming by Infobase on August 05, 2015. this episode of The Secret Life of Books.

Introduction: "Great Expectations" --(2:08) -- Popularity of the Serialized Story -- (3:39) -- Pip's Expectations are Dashed -- (2:42) -- Changes in "Great Expectations" -- (4:15) -- Dickens' Journal Writings -- (3:57) -- Impact of Dickens' Childhood -- (4:01) -- Dickens' Childhood Home -- (3:14) -- Imagining a Happy Ending -- (4:44) -- Credits: Great Expectations -- (0:33).