Dombey and Son

Wealthy shipping merchant Paul Dombey runs his family like he runs his business, with coldness and calculation. When his wife dies giving birth to their second child and long hoped-for heir, Dombey remains preoccupied only with the importance of passing the firm along to his son. Lost in this narrow, obsessive view is Dombey's older child, Florence, who yearns for his attention but receives only an indifference that eventually curdles into outright hatred.
Published midway through the author's career, this 1848 novel marked a new maturity in Charles Dickens' writing. Less an examination of socioeconomic conditions and more of an exploration of emotional deprivation and fulfillment, it offers the satirical indignation of the storyteller's early fiction with an added darkness and narrative complexity. An absorbing plot and memorable characters combine to form a compelling tale of greed, poor judgment, and the redemptive power of love.

After a childhood blighted by poverty, commercial success came early to Charles Dickens (1812–70). By the age of 24, he was an international sensation whose new novels were eagerly anticipated. Two centuries later, Dickens' popularity endures as readers revel in the warm humanity and humor of his tales of self-discovery.

I. Dombey and Son
II. In which Timely Provision is made for an Emergency that will sometimes arise in the best regulated Families
III. In which Mr. Dombey, as a Man and a Father, is seen at the head of the Home-Department
IV. In which some more First Appearances are made on the Stage of these Adventures
V. Paul's Progress and Christening
VI. Paul's Second Deprivation
VII. A Bird's-eye glimpse of Miss Tox's Dwelling-place; also of the State of Miss Tox's Affections
Viii. Paul's further Progress, Growth, and Character
IX. In which the Wooden Midshipman's gets into Trouble
X. Containing the Sequel of the Midshipman's Disaster
XI. Paul's Introduction to a new Scene
XII. Paul's Education
XIII. Shipping Intelligence and Office Business
XIV. Paul grows more and more Old-fashioned, and goes Home for the Holidays
 XV. Amazing Artfulness of Captain Cuttle, and a new Pursuit for Walter Gay
XVI. What the Waves were always saying
XVII. Captain Cuttle does a little Business for the young people
XVIII. Father and Daughter
XIX. Walter goes away
XX. Mr. Dombey goes upon a Journey
XXI. New Faces
XXII. A Trifle of Management by Mr. Carker the Manager
XXIII. Florence Solitary and the Midshipman Mysterious
XXIV. The Study of a Loving Heart
XXV. Strange news of Uncle Sol
XXVI. Shadows of the Past and Future
XXVII. Deeper Shadows
XXVIII. Alterations
XXIX. The Opening of the Eyes of Mrs. Chick
XXX. The Interval before the Marriage
XXXI. The Wedding
XXXII. The Wooden Midshipman goes to Pieces
XXXIII. Contrasts
XXXIV. Another Mother and Daughter
XXXV. The Happy Pair
XXXVI. Housewarming
XXXVII. More Warnings than One
XXXVIII. Miss Tox improves an Old Acquaintance
XXXIX. Further Adventures of Captain Edward Cuttle, Mariner
XL. Domestic Relations
XLI. New Voices on the Waves
XLII. Confidential and Accidental
XLIII. The Watches of the Night
XLIV. A Separation
XLV. The Trusty Agent
XLVI. Recognizant and Reflective
XLVII. The Thunderbolt
XLVIII. The Flight of Florence
XLIX. The Midshipman makes a Discovery
L. Mr. Toot's Complaints
LI. Mr. Dombey and the World
LII. Secret Intelligence
LIII. More Intelligence
LIV. The Fugitives
 LV. Rob the Grinder loses his Place
LVI. Several People Delighted, and the Game Chicken Disgusted
LVII. Another Wedding
LVIII. After a Lapse
LIX. Retribution
LX. Chiefly Matrimonial
LXI. Relenting
LXII. Final