Martin Chuzzlewit

Charles DickensApr 2015

3.8

Word count: 398K words
Chapters: 57

Summary

Martin Chuzzlewit is set apart from most of Dickens's other works by its distinctive combination of manic comedy, bitter satire and fierce melodrama. The storyline alternates between Britain and the United States in ways which highlight the failings of both societies. Shifting between the two countries, the novel brings a sharp satiric eye to bear on each of them, and the result is a story of remarkable tonal range and force, in which comedy and bitterness mingle on every page.

Editor's review

This novel stands out among Dickens's works for its sheer heterogeneity: farcical exaggeration, biting satire and full-blooded melodrama collide, making for anything but a bland reading experience. What rewards rereading most is the constant variation of voices and tones—the comic verges on the uncontrollable, while the cold passages strike straight at the heart. Setting English and American manners and national characters side by side, the book exposes cracks in "respectability", "interest" and "family", so that its satire falls not on one nation alone but on universal human weakness. Readers used to Dickens's warmer narratives will find unexpected sharpness here; those interested in social satire, cross-cultural observation and the language of Victorian fiction will find ample material for discussion. It is best approached as a "problem book": watch how the author wraps criticism in comedy, and how moral questioning survives amid melodramatic conflict. Suited to reading in installments over a longer period—don't aim for a smooth ride; linger instead over the satirical passages and feel the real-world targets behind the exaggeration.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who like Dickens and want to see his sharper, more heterogeneous side
Literary readers interested in social satire and cross-cultural observation
Students and teachers studying Victorian narrative and group characterization
Patient readers comfortable with a mix of comedy, farce and melodrama

Not a good fit for

Readers expecting a single plotline and clear moral answers
Readers who dislike exaggerated comedy and dense casts
Those who want only light, warm stories and have no interest in satire

Reading tips

Read the first few chapters to get used to the narrative voice and relationships before moving into the England–America contrasts.
Mark comic scenes and satirical commentary separately; after each chapter, look back at whom the author is really criticizing.
If the large cast feels scattered, follow the changing fortunes of the central figures as a thread through the whole book.
Best read in several sittings, each focused on one location or group of characters, to ease the strain of shifting tones.

版权信息
PREFACE
POSTSCRIPT
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

FAQ

How is this book different from Dickens's other novels?

Its comedy is closer to farce, its satire sharper and its melodrama heavier; the three tones sit side by side, so the whole is less smooth than a single warm narrative, constantly shifting between mockery and critique.

Can I read this without having read other Dickens novels?

Yes. The story stands fairly independently, but the large cast and rapid shifts of tone can confuse a first-time reader. Read the opening chapters to establish relationships, then proceed by location or character thread.

Are the American passages aimed only at America?

Not really. The book makes England and America mirror each other, using a traveler's impressions to expose the vanity, speculation and prejudice of both societies; the satire also points at more universal human weaknesses.

Is it suitable for a course essay or book-club discussion?

Yes. You could discuss how satire and sympathy coexist, how comic exaggeration carries social criticism, and how prejudice and self-reflection work in cross-cultural writing—focused topics that are easy to divide up.

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About the author

Charles Dickens Author · British · 1812–1870

Charles Dickens was the greatest novelist of the Victorian era in nineteenth-century Britain. Born in Portsmouth in 1812, he was forced to leave school and work as a child laborer because of his family's debts, an experience that profoundly shaped his critical view of society. His major works include Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations, which expose social injustice and are filled with humanitarian concern. With intricate plots, vivid characters, and an infectious style, he portrayed the many facets of Victorian British society and addressed issues such as the gap between rich and poor, justice, and education. His works remain widely read today, and the library holds 128 editions of his works, spanning foreign literature, world classics, and inspirational coming-of-age categories.