Extinction is the complete demise of a species. It takes place when all individuals of a species die out. Extinction has occurred throughout the history of life on Earth.
For adaptations of the novel, see The Old Curiosity Shop (disambiguation). For the Seattle business, see Ye Olde Curiosity Shop. The Old Curiosity Shop is a novel by Charles Dickens. The plot follows the life of Nell Trent and her grandfather, both residents of The Old Curiosity Shop in London. The Old Curiosity Shop was one of two novels (the other being Barnaby Rudge) which Dickens published along with short stories in his weekly serial Master Humphrey's Clock, which lasted from 1840 to 1841.
While characters in other Dickens books are moving towards a better future, Nell and her grandfather are fleeing their lifeand their story is moving towards an ending. The Old Curiosity Shop was inspired by a personal tragedy in Dickens life. Nell Trent is based on the seventeen year old sister-in-law of Dickens who lived with him and whom he was fond of. The girl collapsed and died suddenly after the family had come home from the theater, probably due to undiagnosed heart disease.