The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

The Old Curiosity Shop tells the story of Little Nell Trent, a beautiful and virtuous young girl who lives with her grandfather in his shop of curiosities. After her grandfather loses his entire fortune with his gambling addiction, he and Nell are forced to leave their home and live as beggars. The novel follows their journey across England and the various characters they meet along the way, including the villainous dwarf Quilp, who pursues them relentlessly. The book is a mix of humor and pathos, exploring themes of virtue, resilience, and the harsh realities of life in 19th-century England.

The 1515th greatest book of all time

Ranking Details:

Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:

Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.

Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:

  • Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
  • Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.

Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.

This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.

Total Points: 246

Since this book was first published in 1841, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 246.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.