The story centres on the life and adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, a young man who must support his mother and sister after his father dies.

Nicholas becomes the head of the family when his father dies unexpectedly. Keeping watch over his mother and his sister Kate becomes an even greater challenge when Nicholas discovers that his father lost the family fortune due to ill-advised investments. Without a shilling to his name, Nicholas turns to his wealthy but unforgiving Uncle Ralph for help.

Left penniless by the death of his improvident father, young Nicholas Nickleby assumes responsibility for his mother and sister and seeks help from his Scrooge-like Uncle Ralph. Instantly disliking Nicholas, Ralph sends him to teach in a school run by the stupidly sadistic Wackford Squeers. Nicholas decides to escape, taking with him the orphan Smike, one of Squeers’s most abused young charges, and the two embark on a series of adventurous encounters

...

Nicholas Nickleby and his family enjoy a privileged life. That is,until, the family patriarch dies and the family is left destitute. With nothing left to lose, the Nicklebys travel to London to seek help from their uncle, but he has his own plans for them. He sends Nicholas to a boarding school run by a cruel and abusive man, Wackford Squeers, and uses Nicholas's beautiful sister to further his own investments. Along with Smike Nicholas's friend from...