Part 1, Act 1, Scenes 1-7 Summary

Scene 1. Members of the company, speaking in turn, give the family background of the Nickleby family. Mr. Godfrey Nickleby married late in life, fathered two sons, received an unexpected inheritance, bought a farm, and upon his death left the older son a large sum of money, and the younger son a smaller sum of money and the farm. The older son, Ralph, went to the city and successfully pursued a career in money making, while the younger son stayed on the farm. Encouraged by his wife to learn from his older brother, the younger Mr. Nickleby put a lot of money into the markets. Unfortunately, he lost everything and soon died, leaving his wife, son Nicholas and daughter Kate to fend for themselves. Having heard nothing but good things about Ralph from Mr. Nickleby, the widow and...