are found in a state of destitution in the prison. Mr. Pickwick befriends them and assists them to emigrate. As Messrs. Dodson and Fogg are unable to get their costs from Mr. Pickwick they imprison Mrs. Bardell. Mr. Pickwick is prevailed upon by the plight of his late landlady to pay the costs in the case and in return obtains a release. During this time Winkle has succeeded in marrying Arabella Allen. Snodgrass and Emily Wardle are married at the house at Dulwich, to which Mr. Pickwick retires. Sam and Mary accompany him.

Mudfog Papers. (Published 1837.)

Public Life of Mr. Tulrumble. First Meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything.

Second meeting of the Mudfog Association for the Advancement of Everything. (1838.)

Pantomime of Life. (1838).

Mr. Robert Bolton. (1838.) Some particulars concerning a lion. (1838.)
Familiar epistle from a parent to a child. (1838.)

▲ Adventures of Oliver Twist. (Published in volume form 1838.)

The object of this book was to show "the principle of good surviving through every adverse circumstance." Oliver is born in a workhouse and named Oliver Twist by the Parish Beadle. His mother dies without revealing anything of her history, and Oliver becomes a workhouse brat, at first farmed out and then returned to the workhouse. He is apprenticed to an undertaker named Sowerberry. He fights, and beats, Noah Claypole, the other apprentice; this calls down the wrath of the powers and Oliver runs away to London. On the road he falls in with the Artful Dodger, who shares his food with him and then takes him to Fagin. The first time Oliver goes out with Fagin's boys on the "pinching lay" he is arrested for a theft he did not commit. He is only released on the testimony of the Bookstall Keeper. Mr. Brownlow, the old gentleman whose pocket had been picked, takes him home with him and has him cared for. When on an errand for his benefactor he is recaptured by Fagin's gang. He is then forced to take part in the housebreaking expedition to Mrs. Maylie's house at Chertsey. He raises the alarm, however, but is wounded, and is found next morning at the Maylies' house. His story is credited, and with the assistance of Dr. Losberne the Bow Street runners are deceived. Fagin and Monks hunt out Oliver's sanctuary and plan his recapture. But Nancy, who has been stricken with remorse, reveals everything to Rose Maylie. Nancy is murdered by Bill Sikes for this. Sikes accidentally hangs himself over the Folly Ditch in his attempt to escape, and the gang is broken up. Fagin is executed. Charlie Bates turns over a new leaf and becomes a farmer. Claypole turns evidence and becomes a paid informer with the assistance of Charlotte. It transpires that Monks and Oliver are halfbrothers, and the former has been endeavouring to make the boy a criminal, to prevent his inheriting under their father's will. Rose Maylie turns out to be the sister of Oliver's mother. Monks goes abroad with the portion that has been given him, but dies in prison in a state of poverty. Rose marries Harry Maylie, who takes a country parish. Mr. Brownlow again takes Oliver under his protection. Bumble and his wife are left inmates of the workhouse, where they had so long lorded it over the former inmates.

Sketches of Young Gentlemen. (Published 1838.)

The Bashful Young Gentleman-The Out-and-out Young GentlemanThe Very Friendly Young Gentleman-The Military Young GentlemanThe Political Young Gentleman-The Domestic Young GentlemanThe Censorious Young Gentleman-The Funny Young Gentleman-The Theatrical Young Gentleman-The Poetical Young Gentleman-The Throwing-off Young Gentleman-The Young Ladies' Young Gentleman.

Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. (Published in volume form 1839.) Like Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby contains a purpose, viz., the exposure of "farming schools where young children were taken for a small fee and were underfed and cruelly treated, which at that time were remarkably common in Yorkshire. Nicholas, his mother, and his sister Kate, come to London relying on the assistance of Ralph Nickleby, when the death of Nicholas' father leaves them almost penniless. Ralph is a miserable miser, but he secures the post of usher in one of the Yorkshire schools for Nicholas; and places Kate with Madame Mantalini. Nicholas is unable to adapt himself to the conditions of the school and leaves the place, accompanied by the poor drudge Smike, after soundly thrashing Squeers the schoolmaster. Nicholas and Smike travel to London, assisted by John Browdie. There they are befriended by Newman Noggs and Nicholas becomes tutor to the Kenwigses children. As Ralph Nickleby threatens to do nothing more for Kate and her mother unless Nicholas leaves London, he and Smike go to Portsmouth. They there meet Mr. Vincent Crummles, the head of a mediocre theatrical company, "and go on the stage" with some success. An urgent letter from Newman Noggs recalls them to London. In the meantime Kate has gone from the Mantalini establishment and entered the household of the Wititterly's. She is molested by Hawk and Verisopht, clients of Ralph Nickleby. Nicholas overhears a conversation in a public place in which Lord Hawk disparages Kate, and thrashes him. Nicholas, Kate, and their mother then decline to have anything more to do with Ralph, and Nicholas secures a berth with the Cheeryble brothers. Squeers recaptures Smike, but John Browdie again befriends him and he escapes. Ralph and Squeers concoct a plot to get Smike from his protectors by putting forward Snawley as Smike's father, but they are frustrated. Nicholas falls in love with Madeline Bray, and Frank Cheeryble with Kate Nickleby. Ralph and Gride endeavour to ruin Madeline by forcing her to marry Gride, who wants her property. At the last moment Nicholas prevents this. Smike dies. Ralph discovers that he has been persecuting his own son, and this, together with the failure of his other schemes and monetary losses, preys on his mind until he hangs himself. Gride's old woman servant robs him and is in turn robbed by Squeers, who is eventually landed in prison. Through the intercession of the Cheeryble brothers Frank marries Kate, and Nicholas weds Madeline.. The end of the story, so far as the other characters are concerned, is quickly told. Dotheboys' Hall School is broken up. Newman Noggs recovers himself. Lord Verisopht dies at the hands of Hawk, who flies to the Continent. Vincent Crummles has come to London and then goes to America. Lillyvick returns to the bosom of the Kenwigses family; his wife, formerly Miss Petowker, leaves him in favour of a half-pay captain.

The Old Curiosity Shop. (Published in volume form 1841.)

This, Dickens's fourth novel, first appeared in Master Humphrey's Clock (1840-1.) The central figure is that of Little Nell. She is first seen in her Uncle's shop-the Old Curiosity Shop-where she appears to be responsible for the whole household management, although she is only a child. Her uncle, with a feverish desire to accumulate a fortune for his little niece, is secretly visiting the gaming tables. He loses more than he wins and borrows money from Quilp, the evil dwarf. Quilp eventually "closes down" and sells up the shop. Nell and her grandfather leave secretly, to escape the dwarf, and in their long and wearisome journey meet many people and experience strange adventures. They are being searched for by the brother of Nell's grandfather, but, as they are being hunted by Quilp, and the fear of him is constantly before them, they are always moving on and endeavouring to cover their traces. They are ultimately discovered in a little village where they have been befriended by the schoolmaster they had met on their travels, who had then become the parish clerk. When they are found Nell has just died broken in health, but not in spirit. Her death shatters what remains of her grandfather, and shortly after he, too, is found lying dead on her grave. Running parallel with this, the central theme of the story, is another thread of less importance. Kit Nubbles was shop boy at the Old Curiosity Shop, and when that is disposed of he enters the service of the Garlands. A false charge is proffered against him by Sampson Brass, but he is liberated from prison through the instrumentality of the Marchioness, the maid-of-all-work at, the Brass's, and Dick Swiveller, who was the friend of Nell's brother and had been employed by Sampson at the instance of Quilp. Dick Swiveller marries the Marchioness. Kit marries Barbara. Quilp is found dead on the river bank and his wife marries again on the strength of his money. Sampson and Sally Brass become outcasts.

Pic Nic Papers. (By various writers. Edited by Dickens) (Published 1841.) Sketches of Young Couples. (Published 1840.)

The Young Couple-The Formal Couple-The Loving Couple-The Contradictory Couple-The Couple who dote on their Children-The Cool Couple The Plausible Couple-The Nice little Couple-The Egotistical Couple The Couple who coddle themselves-The Old Couple.

7 Barnaby Rudge. (Published in volume form 1841.)

This also appeared first in Master Humphrey's Clock. The story opens some five years before the Gordon Riots in 1788 at the Maypole Inn. The circumstance, embracing the murder of Reuben Haredale and the missing gardener and steward, leading up to the main theme of the story are here related. Mrs. Rudge and Barnaby leave the neighbourhood of Chigwell to escape a mysterious stranger. Geoffrey Haredale, brother of Reuben, who succeeds to the estates, is suspected of the murder. His daughter Emma falls in love with Edward Chester, the son of Sir John Chester, the villain of the story. The respective fathers, although enemies, unite in an attempt to prevent the lovers marrying. Joe Willet, son of the landlord of the Maypole, is in love with Dolly Varden, daughter of Gabriel Varden, the locksmith, but the machinations of Sir John Chester ruin this love affair also. Joe "takes the shilling" and leaves the country. Just

before the riots Barnaby and his mother enter London in the hope of being lost sight of, but the stranger discovers them. Barnaby, a half-witted but harmless boy, is drawn into the excitement without any clear understanding of what it is all about. The effects of the riots are disastrous for some of the characters of the story. Mr. Haredale's home, the Warren," is burnt down. And eventually Sir John Chester is killed in a duel by Geoffrey Haredale, who then enters a convent. The mysterious visitor to Mrs. Rudge is discovered to be her husband, who had murdered not only Reuben Haredale but also the gardener. He is afterwards executed. Maypole Hugh, the illegitimate son of Sir J. Chester; Simon Tappertit, Gabriel Varden's apprentice; Dennis the hangman and others all take a part in the riots. Hugh and Dennis are hanged. Barnaby is released by the efforts of his friends. Simon loses his legs, becomes a shoeblack and marries. Miggs, who had been an undesired admirer of Simon, leaves the service of Mrs. Varden and becomes a wardress. Mrs. Varden herself becomes somewhat more of a model wife when she was no longer under the domination of Miggs. Joe Willet returns from the American Revolution with the loss of an arm in time to assist in the discovery of Emma Haredale and Dolly Varden. Emma and Edward are married, and Joe and Dolly make another couple. Joe succeeds his father in the Maypole Inn near by where Barnaby and his mother spend the rest of their lives on the farm with the animals Barnaby loves so much.

American Notes. (Published in volume form 1842.)

A discursive account of the author's first visit to the States.

A Christmas Carol in Prose. (Published 1843. Now included in Christmas Books.)

Depicts the change wrought in the nature of Ebenezer Scrooge, a hardhearted miser, by the revelations of the spirits in a dream.

Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit. (Published in volume form 1844.)

Mr. Pecksniff was an architect living near Salisbury. He makes his living by taking pupils at a premium of £500. To him comes Martin Chuzzlewit Junior, who has quarrelled with his uncle of the same name. The immediate cause of the rupture is Mary Graham, a sweet girl companion and attendant to Old Martin, with whom young Martin, has fallen in love. Pecksniff is a canting hypocrite believing that by sheltering the young man he will advance his own ends. Old Martin, however, causes his nephew to be turned out, and in turn becomes an inmate of Pecksniff's house; the architect, thinking in this way to do still better for himself with regard to the old man's money. Pecksniff has two daughters, Mercy and Charity, and a devoted attendant, Tom Pinch. When young Martin leaves the house he goes to London in company with Mark Tapley; from there they go to America, where they meet with all sorts of adventures and nearly die of fever at Eden, where they have bought a plot of land. During their absence Pecksniff appears to have obtained complete control of Old Martin. Jonas Chuzzlewit, son of Anthony Chuzzlewit, a brother of old Martin, marries Mercy Pecksniff. Desiring his father's death he attempts to poison him. His design is frustrated, however, though Anthony dies and Jonas believes his scheme has been successful. Jonas invests his money in the

Anglo-Bengalee Life Insurance Company and becomes a director. The company is a fraudulent one, and the promoter, Montague Tigg, in the interest of his own pocket, obtains a hold upon Jonas by discovering, through the instrumentality of a spy, the suspicious circumstances of Anthony's death. Pecksniff is persuaded by Jonas to put his money into the concern. Jonas murders Montague Tigg and hopes to bury all knowledge of his former attempted crime. While these events have been going on in London, affairs have been rapidly nearing a head in Pecksniff's home. Pecksniff proposes to marry Mary Graham. Tom Pinch at last discovers his employer's baseness and is dismissed. He also goes to London, where he visits John Westlock, who had been one of Pecksniff's pupils immediately before young Martin went to his kinsman. Tom and his sister, who had been a governess, set up housekeeping; and Tom obtains the appointment of librarian to some one whose identity is hidden from him. The threads of the story are unravelled as follows: Martin (the uncle) reveals himself as the benefactor of Tom Pinch, and denounces Pecksniff as a scoundrel. The revelation takes place in the room where Tom has been at work on his books, and the result is a general reconciliation. Martin is taken back to favour and marries Mary Graham; John Westlock marries Ruth Pinch; Mark Tapley marries the landlady of the Blue Dragon. Tom Pinch is attached to Old Martin. Mercy, whose husband (Jonas) poisoned himself on the way to prison after the exposure of his villanies, is watched over by old Martin who becomes the deus ex machina. Charity is deserted at the foot of the altar and returns to her father. Pecksniff, after the loss of his money, becomes an outcast and lives as much as possible on the money he can squeeze from Tom Pinch. Throughout the story Bailey, Poll Sweedlepipe, Mrs. Gamp, and Betsey Prig, with Mould the undertaker, make frequent spasmodic appearances, but they are not essential to the plot.

The Chimes. (Published 1844. Now included in Christmas Books.)

The Chimes has a somewhat similar moral to that of the Christmas Carol. Toby Veck takes the place of Scrooge, and in a dream is taken up to the belfry, where the bells take facial expression, and the goblin of the great Bell appoints the Spirit of the Chimes to show him pictures of the future. These are, however, only pictures, although Toby profits by their lessons.

Cricket on the Hearth. (Published 1845. Now included in Christmas Books.)

Edward Plummer is engaged to May Fielding, but goes to South America. In his absence May is to marry old Tackleton, but with the assistance of Mrs. Peerybingle matters are rearranged and May and Edward are married. Bertha Plummer, a blind girl, is in love with old Tackleton and is terribly disappointed when she learns he is about to marry May, but her father confesses to having deceived her, and everything ends happily more or less. Pictures from Italy. (Published 1846.)

Letters of travel first appearing in The Daily News.

Battle of Life. (Published 1846. Now included in Christmas Books.) The central figures are Alfred Heathfield, Marion Jeddler, and her sister Grace. Heathfield is a ward of Dr. Jeddler. He is engaged to Marion.