Barnaby Rudge is a simple-minded, loving son of Rudge who murders his master, Mr. Reuben Haredale, for his money. Barnaby joins the Gordon Riots despite his mother's frantic pleas and becomes an enthusiastic participant. He is arrested and...
Barnaby Rudge
Barnaby Rudge is the fifth novel which was begun in 1839 and finished in 1841. It is also the first of Dickens's two historical novels. This novel is based on the anti-Catholic riots - the Gordon Riots - instigated by Lord George Gordon in 1780,...
The son Dombey has long desired to be his heir. His mother dies giving birth to him, and Paul the Younger is sickly as a result. He never inherits the merchant business because he dies young in the care of his sister, Florence in London
Dombey and Son
First published as a 20 part monthly serial, Dombey and Son is the tale of Paul Dombey, a wealthy shipping merchant who desires a son. His wife dies giving birth to this son, Paul the Younger, who Dombey focuses all his affection on at the expense...
Mr. Seth Pecksniff, an architect and land surveyor, is the widowed father of Mercy and Charity Pecksniff. He is a cousin to the Chuzzlewit family. Pecksniff took the young Martin Chuzzlewit as student/apprentice. He then throws young Martin out...
Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, The
Martin Chuzzlewit appeared in monthly parts, January 1843-July 1844, as Charles Dickens' sixth novel. The novel was not as successful as earlier novels, although Dickens thought it was best of his stories to that point. Dickens' 1842 trip to...
Reverend Crisparkle lives with his widowed mother and is a minor Canon at Cloisterham Cathedral. He mentors Neville Landless who is one of his pupils and tries to help him reconcile with Edwin Drood after their quarrel. He also believes Neville...
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Dick Datchery appears to be a mysterious stranger in town but is actually an investigator who goes to Cloisterham after Edwin Drood's disappearance. He is particularly interested in John Jasper as a suspect
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Mr. Scadder is an agent of the Eden Settlement. He is an unscrupulous American who sells swamp land to young Martin Chuzzlewit. Dickens says "every time he spoke something was seen to twitch and jerk up in his throat, like the little hammers...
Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, The
Martin Chuzzlewit appeared in monthly parts, January 1843-July 1844, as Charles Dickens' sixth novel. The novel was not as successful as earlier novels, although Dickens thought it was best of his stories to that point. Dickens' 1842 trip to...
The Deputy is a boy who works at the Travellers' Lodginghouse at Cloisterham. He becomes an ally of Inspector Datchery by asking questions and spying on people for him
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Durdles works as a stonemason in Cloisterham and has an excellent knowledge of the crypts at the Cathedral. John Jasper gets him drunk one night so he can steal his keys to the burial vaults
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Hiram Grewgious works as a lawyer and lives at Staple Inn. He is guardian of Rosa Bud and had been in love with her mother who is now deceased. He gives Edwin Drood a ring that had belonged to Rosa's mother following a provision made in her trust...
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Mr. Tope is the Chief Verger and Showman of Cloisterham Cathedral. He is also landlord of the place where John Jasper lives. Later he becomes the landlord of Dick Datchery who takes up lodging there so he can be near to and spy on John Jasper
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
The Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
The father of Bella Wilfer, who was engaged to marry John Harmon, he is a very poor clerk employed by Chicksey, Veneering, and Stobbles. He has a chubby, youthful appearance, although he has begun to grey. He is shy and would like to own one...
Our Mutual Friend
Our Mutual Friend, Dickens' last novel, addresses the issues of money, social class, and human values. John Harmon, heir to his father's fortune made as a dust collector, pretends to be dead in order to find out what people thought about him. He...
An insolvent-court attorney employed by Mr. Weller. "The Attorneys who sit at a large bare table below the Commissioners are after all the greatest curiosities. The professional establishment of the more opulent of these gentlemen consists of...
Pickwick Papers, The
A series of adventures of Mr. Samuel Pickwick and three friends, who travel around the environs of London
A prisoner for debt in the Fleet. "An admirable specimen of a class of gentry which can never be seen in full perfection but in such places. He was a tall fellow, with an olive complexion, long dark hair, and very thick bushy whiskers meeting...
Pickwick Papers, The
A series of adventures of Mr. Samuel Pickwick and three friends, who travel around the environs of London
Boots at the White Hart Inn, afterwards valet to Mr. Pickwick, a Cockney. "He was habited in a coarse striped waistcoat, with black calico sleeves, and blue glass buttons, drab breeches, and leggings, a bright red handkerchief was wound in a...
Pickwick Papers, The
A series of adventures of Mr. Samuel Pickwick and three friends, who travel around the environs of London
Barnaby Rudge is a simple-minded, loving son of Rudge who murders his master, Mr. Reuben Haredale, for his money. Barnaby joins the Gordon Riots despite his mother's frantic pleas and becomes an enthusiastic participant. He is arrested and...
Barnaby Rudge
Barnaby Rudge is the fifth novel which was begun in 1839 and finished in 1841. It is also the first of Dickens's two historical novels. This novel is based on the anti-Catholic riots - the Gordon Riots - instigated by Lord George Gordon in 1780,...
The title character and narrator of the story. Dickens bases David's life loosely on his own
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
Clerk who works at Mr. Wickfield who claims to be humble while at the same time tries to ruin Wickfield. He is stopped by Mr. Micawber
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
Eccentric friend of David Copperfield who is a lodger of David's aunt, Betsy Trotwood
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
David Copperfield's stepfather is a stern disciplinarian who first sends David off to Salem House School, and then later to the warehouse of Murdstone and Grinby
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
Carrier between Blunderstone and Yarmouth who marries Clara Peggotty
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
The severe headmaster of Salem House Academy, where David attends. Dickens bases him on William Jones, headmaster of Wellington Academy, where Dickens was a student from 1825-1827
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
David's great aunt in Dover, whom he lives with after he flees Murdstone and Grinby's warehouse. She helps David and later lives with him in London when she loses her fortune
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
David's landlord whose misfortunes land him in debtor's prison. When he is released, he takes various jobs before he lands in Mr. Wickfield's office. He exposes Uriah Heep's villainy, and is rewarded by the forgiveness of his debts. His luck...
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
Clare Pegotty's fisherman brother who sells lobsters, crabs, and crawfish. His home is a converted boat on the beach at Yarmouth, where he lives with Emily, Ham, and Mrs. Gummidge. He vows to find Emily after she elopes with Steerforth. In the end,...
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
Widow of Daniel Pegotty's partner, she lives with Daniel and later moves to Australia with him
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
The peg-legged assistant of headmaster Creakle at David's school, Salem House. He lost his leg working for Creakle in the hops business
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
Steerforth's manservant who helps conceal his master's elopement with Emily. Miss Mowcher later helps capture him when he commits embezzlement
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
An orphaned fisherman and boat builder who lives with his uncle Daniel Peggotty. He is engaged to Emily, but drowns trying to rescue Steerforth
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
A schoolmate of David and Steerforth at Salem House. As David's best friend, he serves as best man at David's wedding to Dora Spenlow. He becomes a lawyer and marries Sophy Crewler
David Copperfield
David Copperfield is the partly autobiographical story of the trials of a boy born at the Rookery, Blunderstone. His father dies before he is born, and his mother marries Mr. Murdstone, who is cruel to the boy. When she dies, he is sent to work in...
The son Dombey has long desired to be his heir. His mother dies giving birth to him, and Paul the Younger is sickly as a result. He never inherits the merchant business because he dies young in the care of his sister, Florence in London
Dombey and Son
First published as a 20 part monthly serial, Dombey and Son is the tale of Paul Dombey, a wealthy shipping merchant who desires a son. His wife dies giving birth to this son, Paul the Younger, who Dombey focuses all his affection on at the expense...
Pip, an orphan, is the protagonist and narrator of Great Expectations. When Pip meets Miss Havisham and Estella, he becomes unhappy with his life. He is glad to receive money from an unknown benefactor to go to London to become a gentleman. He...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Joe Gargery is Pip's brother-in-law and works as the village blacksmith. After Mrs. Gargery's death, he married Bibby, the local teacher. Joe later nursed Pip to health, and paid off his debts. He is physically strong with a mild, good-natured...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Mr. Hubble is the wheelwright in Pip's village in rural Kent. He is a friend of Joe Gargery. He is described as having "legs extraordinarily wide apart"
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Mr. Pumblechook is Joe Gargery's uncle. He is a bachelor corn merchant. Pumblechook was Pip's first connection to Miss Havisham. Pumblechook attempts to pass himself off as Pip's benefactor. He is portrayed as a hypocrite
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Mr. Jaggers is Miss Havisham's and Magwitch's lawyer. He notifies Pip of his good fortune. He is a friend to Pip in a cautious lawyerly way. One of his clients is Molly, Estella's mother, who also works as his housekeeper. He is described as...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Mr. John Wemmick is employed as Mr. Jagger's clerk. In London, he is all business and a bit gruff. He lives with his father the Aged at Walworth in a small castle replica including a moat and drawbridge. At home, Mr. Wemmick is warm and...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Magwitch, a escaped convict, accosted six year old Pip in the churchyard as Pip visited his parents' graves. Pip provided him food and a file. Magwitch is recaptured with another escaped convict and send to Australia. Years later, Magwitch...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Mr. Wemmick, Sen. is Mr. John Wemmick's father. He delights in reading the newspaper aloud and being nodded to. He is hard of hearing
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Orlick is a surly journeyman working for Joe Gargery. He later is employed by Miss Havisham as a porter. Pip reports to Jaggers that Orlick is dangerous. Orlick then falls in with Compeyson. He admits that he had attacked Mrs. Joe and attempts...
Great Expectations
Great Expectations is Dickens's 13th novel. It appeared in monthly installments from December 1860 to August 1961 in the periodical All the Year Round. It was also published in the United States in Harper's Weekly. It is one of Dickens's best...
Proprietor of a circus. "Last of all appeared Mr. Sleary, a stout man as already mentioned, with one eye fixed and one loose eye; a voice (if it can be called so) like the efforts of a broken old pair of bellows; a flabby surface, and a...
Hard Times
A satire on Utilitarianism set in a provincial industrial town, portraying the dreariness of life for industrial workers, the hopelessness of decent people trapped in a failed marriage, and the fallacy of mechanical theories of human nature
Banker and manufacturer of Coketown who prided himself on having risen from the gutter, had neither refinement of mind nor manners, and who married Louisa Gradgrind. "He was a rich man, banker, manufacturer, merchant, and what not, a big loud...
Hard Times
A satire on Utilitarianism set in a provincial industrial town, portraying the dreariness of life for industrial workers, the hopelessness of decent people trapped in a failed marriage, and the fallacy of mechanical theories of human nature
Mr. Scadder is an agent of the Eden Settlement. He is an unscrupulous American who sells swamp land to young Martin Chuzzlewit. Dickens says "every time he spoke something was seen to twitch and jerk up in his throat, like the little hammers...
Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit
Martin Chuzzlewit appeared in monthly parts, January 1843-July 1844, as Charles Dickens' sixth novel. The novel was not as successful as earlier novels, although Dickens thought it was best of his stories to that point. Dickens' 1842 trip to...
Mr. Seth Pecksniff, an architect and land surveyor, is the widowed father of Mercy and Charity Pecksniff. He is a cousin to the Chuzzlewit family. Pecksniff took the young Martin Chuzzlewit as student/apprentice. He then throws young Martin out...
Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit
Martin Chuzzlewit appeared in monthly parts, January 1843-July 1844, as Charles Dickens' sixth novel. The novel was not as successful as earlier novels, although Dickens thought it was best of his stories to that point. Dickens' 1842 trip to...
The name assumed by Mr. Smith, a draper's assistant who, posing as a stylish person of consequence, made the acquaintance of the Malderton family. "The first object that met the anxious eyes of the expectant family, on their entrance into the...
Horatio Sparkins
A series of papers of a humorous character dealing with life and scenes, chiefly in London, at the time of publication and the earlier part of the nineteenth century
Bachelor-uncle of Mr. Charles Kitterbell, and godfather to his child. "Mr. Nicodemus Dumps, or as his acquaintance called him, 'Long Dumps', was a bachelor; six feet high, and fifty years old; cross, cadaverous, odd, and ill-natured. He was...
Bloomsbury Christening, The
A series of papers of a humorous character dealing with life and scenes, chiefly in London, at the time of publication and the earlier part of the nineteenth century
Formerly a broker's man, afterwards beadle of the parish. "The life of this gentleman has been one of a very chequered description; he has undergone transitions; not from grave to gay, for he never was grave; not from lively to severe, for...
Broker's Man, The
A series of papers of a humorous character dealing with life and scenes, chiefly in London, at the time of publication and the earlier part of the nineteenth century
Dick Datchery appears to be a mysterious stranger in town but is actually an investigator who goes to Cloisterham after Edwin Drood's disappearance. He is particularly interested in John Jasper as a suspect
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Durdles works as a stonemason in Cloisterham and has an excellent knowledge of the crypts at the Cathedral. John Jasper gets him drunk one night so he can steal his keys to the burial vaults
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
Reverend Crisparkle lives with his widowed mother and is a minor Canon at Cloisterham Cathedral. He mentors Neville Landless who is one of his pupils and tries to help him reconcile with Edwin Drood after their quarrel. He also believes Neville...
Mystery of Edwin Drood, The
Mystery of Edwin Drood was the fifteenth and final novel of Charles Dickens. He worked on it from October 1869 until June 1870 but it was left unfinished when he died. The main plot tells the story of a choirmaster named John Jasper who is in...
