Little Nell Trent and her grandfather flee their home in London to escape the predatory moneylender Daniel Quilp. Driven by the need to protect her grandfather from his own gambling addiction and the machinations of the grotesque Quilp, Nell navigates a landscape of poverty and exploitation. The narrative follows their flight through the English countryside, presenting a series of encounters with eccentric characters who represent both the benevolence and the cruelty of society. Dickens utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective to weave together the protagonists' struggle with the subplots of those pursuing them, maintaining a high-stakes atmosphere throughout the serialized chapters.

Readers frequently highlight the stark contrast between the villainous Quilp and the saintly Little Nell as a defining feature of the work. Discussion often centers on the pacing of the novel, which reflects the pressures of its original weekly publication schedule. Critics often examine the author's ability to manipulate reader sentiment, particularly regarding the conclusion of the protagonist's arc. The work remains a primary subject for those interested in the evolution of the Victorian novel and the mechanics of serialized storytelling.