Our Mutual Friend

by DICKENS, CHARLESGAUGHAN, RICHARD

• ISBN13: 9780375761140
• ISBN10: 0375761144
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-09-10
• Publisher: Modern Library

Summary

A satiric masterpiece about the allure and peril of money,Our Mutual Friendrevolves around the inheritance of a dust-heap where the rich throw their trash. When the body of John Harmon, the dust-heap's expected heir, is found in the Thames, fortunes change hands surprisingly, raising to new heights "Noddy" Boffin, a low-born but kindly clerk who becomes "the Golden Dustman." Charles Dickens's last complete novel,Our Mutual Friendencompasses the great themes of his earlier works: the pretensions of the nouveaux riches, the ingenuousness of the aspiring poor, and the unfailing power of wealth to corrupt all who crave it. With its flavorful cast of characters and numerous subplots,Our Mutual Friendis one of Dickens's most complexand satisfyingnovels.

Author Biography

<b>Richard T. Gaughan</b> received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Notre Dame and his Ph.D. from Brown University. He is currently an associate professor of English at the University of Central Arkansas.

Table of Contents

Biographical Note	v
Introduction	xiii
Richard T. Gaughan
BOOK THE FIRST. THE CUP AND THE LIP
On the Look-Out	2	(4)
The Man from Somewhere	6	(11)
Another Man	17	(14)
The R. Wilfer Family	31	(12)
Boffin's Bower	43	(16)
Cut Adrift	59	(15)
Mr. Wegg looks after Himself	74	(9)
Mr. Boffin in Consultation	83	(13)
Mr. and Mrs. Boffin in Consultation	96	(14)
A Marriage Contract	110	(14)
Podsnappery	124	(15)
The Sweat of an Honest Man's Brow	139	(16)
Tracking the Bird of Prey	155	(10)
The Bird of Prey brought down	165	(8)
Two New Servants	173	(14)
Minders and Reminders	187	(15)
A Dismal Swamp	202	(6)
BOOK THE SECOND. BIRDS OF A FEATHER
On an Educational Character	208	(18)
Still Educational	226	(11)
A Piece of Work	237	(11)
Cupid Prompted	248	(12)
Mercury Prompting	260	(15)
A Riddle without an Answer	275	(13)
In which a Friendly Move is Originated	288	(10)
In which an Innocent Elopement Occurs	298	(16)
In which the Orphan Makes His Will	314	(8)
A Successor	322	(7)
Some Affairs of the Heart	329	(12)
More Birds of Prey	341	(14)
A sold and a Duett	355	(14)
Strong of Purpose	369	(12)
The Whole Case so Far	381	(16)
An Anniversary Occasion	397	(13)
BOOK THE THIRD. A LONG LANE
Lodgers in Queer Street	410	(12)
A Respected Friend in a New Aspect	422	(10)
The Same Respected Friend in More Aspects than One	432	(6)
A Happy Return of the Day	438	(12)
The Golden Dustman Falls into Bad Company	450	(14)
The Golden Dustman Falls into Worse Company	464	(15)
The Friendly Move Takes up a Strong Position	479	(12)
The End of a Long Journey	491	(11)
Somebody Becomes the Subject of a Prediction	502	(16)
Scouts Out	518	(14)
In the Dark	532	(9)
Meaning Mischief	541	(9)
Give a Dog a Bad Name, and Hang Him	550	(10)
Mr. Wegg Prepares a Grindstone for Mr. Boffin's Nose	560	(13)
The Golden Dustman at His Worst	573	(14)
The Feast of the Three Hobgoblins	587	(15)
A Social Chorus	602	(12)
BOOK THE FOURTH. A TURNING
Setting Traps	614	(11)
The Golden Dustman Rises a Little	625	(9)
The Golden Dustman Sinks Again	634	(10)
A Runaway Match	644	(11)
Concerning the Mendicant's Bride	655	(16)
A Cry for Help	671	(13)
Better to be Abel than Cain	684	(12)
A Few Grains of Pepper	696	(11)
Two Places Vacated	707	(11)
The Dolls' Dressmaker Discovers a Word	718	(7)
Effect is given to the Dolls, Dressmaker's Discovery	725	(12)
The Passing Shadow	737	(13)
Showing how the Golden Dustman Helped to Scatter Dust	750	(10)
Checkmate to the Friendly Move	760	(12)
What was Caught in the Traps that were Set	772	(11)
Persons and Things in General	783	(11)
Chapter the Last. The Voice of Society	794	(5)
Postscript, in lieu of Preface	799	(4)
Notes	803	(32)
Bibliography	835	(2)
Reading Group Guide	837