Nicholas Nickleby, his mother and sister Kate are left penniless upon the death of his father. Around the central story of Nicholas and the misfortunes of his family, Dickens weaves a great gallery of memorable characters, including the friendly Crummles, the evil headmaster Wackford Squeers, Miss Petoker, Newman Noggs and the brothers Cheeryble. Nicholas and Kate struggle through hard times, until they finally find their own happiness.