Little Nell Trent and her grandfather flee London to escape the predatory debts of the malicious moneylender Daniel Quilp. Nell, a young girl of singular devotion, navigates a landscape of poverty and moral decay while attempting to protect her grandfather from his gambling addiction. They are pursued by Quilp, a grotesque and vengeful figure who seeks to seize their assets and destroy their remaining dignity. The narrative unfolds through a third-person perspective that shifts between the plight of the fugitives and the machinations of those they leave behind in the city. The story operates within the rigid social hierarchies of nineteenth-century England, where financial ruin often leads to physical displacement.

Discussion often centers on the polarizing nature of the novel's sentimentality, particularly regarding the characterization of Little Nell. Readers frequently highlight the stark contrast between the terrifying, vibrant presence of the villain Quilp and the idealized, fragile nature of the protagonist. Critics often examine how the text functions as a critique of the social and economic pressures prevalent in the Victorian era. The pacing is noted for its slow, deliberate build, which reflects the original serialized format of the work. Many readers find the atmospheric descriptions of the shop and the English countryside to be the most enduring elements of the narrative.