Around the central story of Nicholas Nickleby and the misfortunes of his family, Dickens created some of his most memorable characters: the muddle-headed Mrs Nickleby, the theatrical Crummles, their protege Miss Petowker, and the mindlessly cruel Squeers and his wife.

Around the central story of Nicholas Nickleby and the misfortunes of his family, Dickens created some of his most memorable characters: the muddle-headed Mrs Nickleby, the theatrical Crummles, their protege Miss Petowker, and the mindlessly cruel Squeers and his wife.