The Old Curiosity Shop is a short story written by Charles Dickens and was published in his weekly serial Master Humphrey's Clock, from 1840 to 1841.
The story revolves around the life of the main protagonist, Nell, and her grandfather and their shop of odd bits. Nell’s grandfather ends up making poor choices which result in their eviction from their beloved shop, at the hands of the evil Quilp. As such, they are forced to become beggars and Nell cares for her poorly grandfather on their travels. Eventually, Nell and her grandfather both die, despite being eventually found by her best friend Kit, making it a bittersweet ending.
The book covers themes relating to sacrifice, mainly through the role of Nell and her grandfather. Though Nell’s grandfather sacrifices his shop to try to give a better life for Nell, eventually she sacrifices her own life to care for him.
