Set in the austere post–World War II British world of rationing, Cyril dreams up an ode to an imaginary character named Merlin Mound who can provide anything one can wish. Merlin becomes real and grants his host's wishes; not by conjuring the items out of thin air, but depriving them from other people's ownership, which leads to trouble.
Nicholas Nickleby es un joven inteligente que se ve obligado a proteger a su madre y a su hermana de las malvadas maquinaciones de su tío Ralph. Nicholas sabe tratar hábilmente con amigos y enemigos, pero abandona su círculo de amistades para vengarse de su tío.