Charles Dickens has published 15 major novels, several novellas, and a large number of short stories (Image: Getty)
Few authors have left a mark on literature as much as Charles Dickens. With novels packed with unforgettable characters, social commentary and ever-relevant themes, Dickens transported readers to Victorian England, and remains one of the most beloved authors of all time.
Millions across the globe still enjoy his work, which will be celebrated for generations to come. But to determine which of his books are the most popular today, we take a look at their ranking on Goodreads, a literature reviewing website.
Here are the twelve most read Charles Dickens novels, as of 2025, ranked.
12. Our Mutual Friend
30,529 ratings | 4.09 average rating
Dickens’s final completed novel is a dark and twisting tale of inheritance, deception, and class ambition. It begins with a body found in the Thames, presumed to be John Harmon, heir to a vast fortune. But when a mysterious man appears, claiming the fortune under a different name, a web of intrigue unfolds. With a cast of scheming fortune hunters, corrupt lawyers, and virtuous heroes, Our Mutual Friend is a critique of a society obsessed with wealth, offering one of Dickens’s most complex plots.
11. A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings
39,500 ratings | 4.14 average rating
While A Christmas Carol is the star of this collection, it also includes lesser-known holiday tales like The Chimes and The Cricket on the Hearth. These stories all revolve around themes of redemption, the power of kindness, and the magic of the Christmas spirit.
10. Nicholas Nickleby
45,851 ratings | 3.94 average rating
A tale of resilience, justice, and youthful rebellion, Nicholas Nickleby follows a young man left destitute after his father’s death. Sent to work at a cruel boarding school run by the villainous Wackford Squeers, Nicholas soon escapes and embarks on a series of adventures across England. The novel is filled with Dickens’s trademark humor and social critique, particularly regarding the mistreatment of children in schools. With romance, action, and plenty of eccentric characters, it’s one of Dickens’s more energetic and fast-paced works.
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Scene from Nicholas Nickelby by Charles Dickens (Image: Getty – Hablot Knight Browne)
9. Little Dorrit
48,917 ratings | 4.00 average rating
At the heart of Little Dorrit is Amy Dorrit, a young woman born in the Marshalsea debtors’ prison, where her father has been locked away for years. As she grows up, Amy remains fiercely devoted to her father, even as a mysterious change in fortune brings them unexpected wealth. Meanwhile, the novel explores a corrupt bureaucracy, untrustworthy aristocrats, and the ways in which money can shape lives. It’s one of Dickens’s most political novels, critiquing the inefficiencies of the British government while weaving in a deeply personal and emotional story.
8. A Christmas Carol / The Chimes / The Cricket on the Hearth
58,706 ratings | 4.14 average rating
This collection brings together some of Dickens’s most famous holiday tales, all exploring themes of transformation and redemption. While A Christmas Carol is the standout, The Chimes follows an elderly man who is prejudiced against “the poor” – until he is given a supernatural vision of their struggles. Meanwhile, The Cricket on the Hearth is a sentimental story about love, faith, and mistaken identity.
7. Hard Times
71,294 ratings | 3.54 average rating
Set in the grim industrial town of Coketown, Hard Times is one of Dickens’s most scathing social critiques. The novel follows Thomas Gradgrind, a rigid schoolmaster who believes only in facts, raising his children without imagination or emotion. But when his daughter Louisa enters a loveless marriage and his son turns to crime, Gradgrind is forced to rethink his philosophy. The novel explores themes of education, capitalism, and the harshness of industrial life.
Scene from Charles Dickens’ Hard Times (Image: Getty)
6. Bleak House
111,348 ratings | 4.02 average rating
Centered around the never-ending court case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce, Bleak House is one of Dickens’s most intricate novels. The legal dispute over a will drags on for generations, ruining lives and fortunes along the way. But at its core is Esther Summerson, a kind-hearted young woman searching for her identity, as well as a thrilling murder mystery that keeps readers hooked.
5. David Copperfield
249,132 ratings | 4.04 average rating
A deeply personal novel, David Copperfield is often seen as a semi-autobiographical reflection of Dickens’s own life. It follows David from childhood through adulthood, chronicling his struggles with cruel stepfathers, heartbreak, and professional ambition. Along the way, he encounters some of Dickens’s most famous characters, including the lovable but irresponsible Mr. Micawber and the sinister Uriah Heep.
4. Oliver Twist
413,229 ratings | 3.88 average rating
One of Dickens’s most famous works, Oliver Twist follows the journey of a young orphan who runs away from a workhouse only to fall into the hands of a gang of criminals led by the sinister Fagin. The novel paints a vivid picture of London’s underworld, filled with danger, deception, and unlikely heroes. With iconic scenes and characters like the villainous Bill Sikes and the kind-hearted Nancy, it’s a gripping and emotional read.
Mark Lester In ‘Oliver!’, 1968 adaptation of the Dickens novel (Image: Getty)
3. Great Expectations
842,787 ratings | 3.80 average rating
A richly layered novel, Great Expectations tells the story of Pip, a poor orphan who is mysteriously given the opportunity to become a gentleman. As he navigates his newfound status, Pip falls hopelessly in love with the cold and distant Estella, while unraveling the dark secrets surrounding his benefactor. Great Expectations is a powerful exploration of ambition, self-discovery, and the true nature of success.
2. A Christmas Carol
884,949 ratings | 4.09 average rating
No Christmas story is more famous than A Christmas Carol, in which Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly businessman, is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Over the course of one fateful night, he is forced to confront the loneliness and bitterness his greed has created. It is considered one of the most enduring holiday stories of all time, inspiring countless adaptations and retellings.
1. A Tale of Two Cities
984,152 ratings | 3.87 average rating
Topping the list as Dickens’s most popular novel, A Tale of Two Cities is set during the French Revolution and follows the lives of Charles Darnay, a French aristocrat, and Sydney Carton, a drunken English lawyer who bears a striking resemblance to him. As the revolution erupts, the two men’s fates become intertwined in a story of love, sacrifice, and redemption. The novel’s dramatic opening line – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times” – and its heartbreaking final act make it one of Dickens’s most unforgettable works.
