Martin Chuzzlewit

A rich old man distrusts everyone around him. His relatives circle his fortune, led by a sanctimonious architect who preaches virtue while scheming for money. His grandson, proud and impatient, is cast off and must make his own way in a world of hypocrites, swindlers and cheerful servants. So begins Martin Chuzzlewit, Charles Dickens's comic novel of inheritance, selfishness and self-discovery, published in 1844 after his disillusioning first trip to America.

The novel ranges from a shabby London boarding house to a fever-ridden American settlement, from a fraudulent insurance company to a quiet country inn. Along the way Dickens gives us some of his most memorable characters: the unctuous Seth Pecksniff, the loyal Tom Pinch, the irrepressible Mark Tapley, the drunken nurse Sarah Gamp and the smooth swindler Tigg Montague. It is a story about what people owe one another, and about how generosity can survive in a world of calculation.

This edition is designed for readers, students and book clubs. It contains the complete text of the novel, including the original preface and postscript, in fifty-four chapters. It also includes a new introduction, a character guide, a summary of the plot, a list of themes, a glossary of period words and phrases, and twelve discussion questions to spark conversation. Whether you are reading Dickens for the first time or returning to a favorite, this companion will help you enjoy the novel's language, its humor and its moral seriousness.