Martin Chuzzlewit
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3.9 • 45 Ratings
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Publisher Description
Dickens sixth novel, written after taking a year off during which he visited America for the first time, was less than enthusiastically received. The novel deals with the greed of Old Martin's relatives, chiefly Mr. Pecksniff, hoping to inherit his wealth.
Customer Reviews
Long and rambling
Alas, this would have been a good book if only half the pages had been omitted. There are many paragraphs and, indeed, whole chapters that seem to be there only to display the author's descriptive prowess. They add nothing to the story and are simply self-indulgent. As to the story, it is the usual Dickens mixture of jolly nice people and grotesque characters and greed and coincidence. Very readable but too long and rambling. There are no mysteries to tease the reader until the last 200 pages. There is no great story arc and no major character with whom to empathise. The book is a bit of a soap opera where characters do stuff and then we move on to other characters doing other stuff. Martin is the nominal hero although he disappears for huge portions of the book, going off to America with his faithful lapdog Mark Tapley. Martin's grandfather, also Martin, is also the nominal hero although he takes a supporting role until the last three chapters. Mrs Gamp is the comedy cockney. There are lots of greedy grasping people who get their comeuppance. And a sweet girl who does nothing but exist as a point of contention. It rambles on and I'm sure there's a decent book in there somewhere but too well hidden sadly.