Charles Dickens, forty-five years old and married, falls passionately in love with Nelly Ternan, an actress almost 30 years his junior. After a long affair which ends only with Dickens' death in 1870, Nelly marries and has two children, but she carries with her thirteen clandestine years to explain away. In 1922, her son resolves to uncover the truth. Inspired by Claire Tomalin's book 'The Invisible Woman', 'Little Nell' is an enthralling play about the great Victorian novelist, his little-known mistress and their legacy. It was first presented at the Theatre Royal, Bath, in June 2007.