Our Mutual Friend

Discover the intricacies of Charles Dickens's final novel, Our Mutual Friend, a masterpiece that combines thrilling storytelling with social commentary. Set against the backdrop of a grimy, Victorian London, this trade paperback edition from Penguin UK (1997) captures 928 pages rich with symbolism and satire. Join young John Harmon, presumed deceased, as he navigates an inheritance that pits him against characters like the benevolent Mr. Boffin, the cunning Bella Wilfer, and the morally ambiguous Silas Wegg. Dickens intricately weaves a narrative exploring themes of death, renewal, and the corrupting nature of wealth through the lens of the fetid Thames. This edition features the text of the first volume from 1865, complete with original illustrations and a chronology for enriched reading. Renowned for his keen insight into society, Dickens’s Our Mutual Friend shares thematic elements with his classics such as Bleak House and Little Dorrit. Loved by readers and adapted widely, this novel is a compelling exploration of life’s complexities through unforgettable characters. Add this literary jewel to your collection today and experience Dickens's mastery firsthand. Perfect for enthusiasts of classic literature and fans of Dickens. Remember, with our shop, enjoy FREE shipping on this item! Explore related works like The Mystery of Edwin Drood for further reading satisfaction.

Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9780140434972
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 1997
Publisher: Penguin UK
Pages: 928


Description:
Our Mutual Friend centres on an inheritance - Old Harmon's profitable dust heaps - and its legatees, young John Harmon, presumed drowned when a body is pulled out of the River Thames, and kindly dustman Mr Boffin, to whom the fortune defaults. With brilliant satire, Dickens portrays a dark, macabre London, inhabited by such disparate characters as Gaffer Hexam, scavenging the river for corpses; enchanting, mercenary Bella Wilfer; the social-climbing Veneerings; and the unscrupulous street-trader Silas Wegg. The novel is richly symbolic in its vision of death and renewal in a city dominated by the fetid Thames, and the corrupting power of money.

Our Mutual Friend uses text of the first volume edition of 1865 and includes original illustrations, a chronology and revised further reading. As Adrian Poole writes in his introduction to this new edition, 'In its vast scope and perilous ambitions it has much in common with Bleak House and Little Dorrit, but its manner is more stealthy, on edge, enigmatic.'

Charles Dickens is one of the best-loved novelists in the English language, whose 200th anniversary was celebrated in 2012. His most famous books, including Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities, David Copperfield and The Pickwick Papers, have been adapted for stage and screen and read by millions.

If you enjoyed Our Mutual Friend, you might like Dickens's The Mystery of Edwin Drood, also available in Penguin Classics.

'The great poet of the city. He was created by London' - Peter Ackroyd

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