Upon the death of his father, Nicholas and his mother and sister arrive in London to appeal for help from Ralph Nickleby. Ralph has little interest in helping the family of his recently deceased brother, unless he is to profit by it. He places Nicholas in a position of schoolmaster for Mr. Wackford Squeers at the Dotheboys Academy. From the point of the separation of Nicholas and his family, Ralph proceeds to use them for his financial benefit.

Memorable characters include Smike, drudge to the Squeers, the Cheerybles, benevolent businessmen and Brooker, Noggs clerk to Ralph Nickleby and Mrs. LaCreevey, a painter of small portraints.

The fast moving scene-to-scene action quickly draws the audience into the story.