Our Mutual Friend

"Of all the Dickens I’ve read … Our Mutual Friend remains my favorite." — Jane Smiley.
A young man returns from abroad to claim his inheritance — but he never arrives and is presumed to have drowned in the Thames. Mr. and Mrs. Boffin, a warmhearted, working-class couple, are the next heirs in line, and their generosity is tested when their windfall opens the door to a vast gallery of scoundrels, strivers, and social climbers.
Charles Dickens's genius for observing and characterizing people from every walk of life sparkles in this, his final complete novel. The great storyteller's cast of extraordinary personalities ranges from grasping Mr. Podsnap and greedy Silas Wegg to selfless Lizzie Hexam, insanely jealous Bradley Headstone, and spoiled Bella Wilfer, whose initial disappointment paves the way for a change of heart. Blending elements of mystery, horror, romance, and farce, Dickens paints a brooding portrait of the minds and motives of desperate people as well as a delightful satire of middle-class snobbery.

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 rollicking humor of his tales of self-discovery.

BOOK THE FIRST (THE CUP AND THE LIP)I. On the Look-outII. The Man from SomewhereIII. Another ManIV. The R. Wilfer FamilyV. Boffin's BowerVI. Cut AdriftVII. Mr. Wegg Looks after HimselfVIII. Mr. Boffin in ConsultationIX. Mr. and Mrs. Boffin in ConsultationX. A Marriage ContractXI. PodsnapperyXII. The Sweat of an Honest Man's BrowXIII. Tracking the Bird of PreyXIV. The Bird of Prey Brought DownXV. Two New ServantsXVI. Minders and RemindersXVII. A Dismal SwampBOOK THE SECOND (BIRDS OF A FEATHER)I. Of an Educational CharacterII. Still EducationalIII. A Piece of WorkIV. Cupid PromptedV. Mercury PromptingVI. A Riddle without an AnswerVII. In which a Friendly Move is OriginatedVIII. In which an Innocent Elopement OccursIX. In which the Orphan Makes his WillX. A SuccessorXI. Some Affairs of the HeartXII. More Birds of PreyXIII. A Solo and a DuetXIV. Strong of PurposeXV. The Whole Case so FarXVI. An Anniversary OccasionBOOK THE THIRD (A LONG LANE)I. Lodgers in Queer StreetII. A Respected Friend in a New AspectIII. The Same Respected Friend in More Aspects than OneIV. A Happy Return of the DayV. The Golden Dustman Falls into Bad CompanyVI. The Golden Dustman Falls into Worse CompanyVII. The Friendly Move Takes up a Strong PositionVIII. The End of a Long JourneyIX. Somebody Becomes the Subject of a PredictionX. Scouts OutXI. In the DarkXII. Meaning MischiefXIII. Give a Dog a Bad Name, and Hang HimXIV. Mr. Wegg Prepares a Grindstone for Mr. Boffin's NoseXV. The Golden Dustman at his WorstXVI. The Feast of the Three HobgoblinsXVII. A Social ChorusBOOK THE FOURTH (A TURNING)I. Setting TrapsII. The Golden Dustman Rises a LittleIII. The Golden Dustman Sinks AgainIV. A Runaway MatchV. Concerning the Mendicant's BrideVI. A Cry for HelpVII. Better to be Abel than CainVIII. A Few Grains of PepperIX. Two Places VacatedX. The Dolls' Dressmaker Discovers a WordXI. Effect is Given to the Dolls' Dressmaker's DiscoveryXII. The Passing ShadowXIII. Showing How the Golden Dustman Helped to Scatter DustXIV. Checkmate to the Friendly MoveXV. What was Caught in the Traps that were SetXVI. Persons and Things in GeneralThe Last. The Voice of SocietyPostscript. In Lieu of Preface