According to UC Santa Cruz, Dickens was not paid per word, but by installment. The novels were released in monthly installments, which culminated in a full novel. They do not mention Great Expectations specifically, but do say he would release a novel over 20 issues, costing 1 shilling per issue, making it easier for normal people to buy his novels since a full book cost around 31 shillings at the time and the common man only had to save one shilling a month instead of 31 in one go.
Is that true? That explains Great Expectations. I had to read that in high school and it just went on and oooooon.
According to UC Santa Cruz, Dickens was not paid per word, but by installment. The novels were released in monthly installments, which culminated in a full novel. They do not mention Great Expectations specifically, but do say he would release a novel over 20 issues, costing 1 shilling per issue, making it easier for normal people to buy his novels since a full book cost around 31 shillings at the time and the common man only had to save one shilling a month instead of 31 in one go.
I pity the poor bastard who had to pay a monthly subscription fee to read that book.
Upon further research, get expectations was released weekly in his periodical over 9 months.