The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit.

DICKENS, Charles.

$650.00

Item Number: 147694

London: Chapman and Hall, 1844.

First edition, later printing of the last of Dickens’ picaresque novels. Octavo, half calf bound in three quarter morocco with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised gilt bands, frontispiece with an additional illustrated title page, all edges sprayed green, with black and white illustrations by Phiz. In very good condition with splitting to the hinge of the spine on the front panel, toning throughout. Bookseller’s tickets to the front and rear pastedown.

The last of Dickens’ picaresque novels, The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit was originally serialized between 1843 and 1844. Dickens thought it to be his best work and William Boyd proclaimed it "Dickens' funniest novel." Like nearly all of Dickens's novels, Martin Chuzzlewit was first published in monthly instalments. Early sales of the monthly parts were lower than those of previous works, so Dickens changed the plot to send the title character to the United States. He satirized the country as a place filled with self-promoting hucksters, eager to sell land sight unseen. The novels main characters include two of Dickens's great villains, Seth Pecksniff and Jonas Chuzzlewit.