"Our Mutual Friend", Dickens' last complete novel, gives one of his most comprehensive and penetrating accounts of Victorian society. Its vision of a culture stifled by materialistic values emerges not just through its central narratives, but through its apparently incidental characters and scenes. "Our Mutual Friend", Dickens' last complete novel, gives one of his most comprehensive and penetrating accounts of Victorian society. Its vision of a culture stifled by materialistic values emerges not just through its ...
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"Our Mutual Friend", Dickens' last complete novel, gives one of his most comprehensive and penetrating accounts of Victorian society. Its vision of a culture stifled by materialistic values emerges not just through its central narratives, but through its apparently incidental characters and scenes. "Our Mutual Friend", Dickens' last complete novel, gives one of his most comprehensive and penetrating accounts of Victorian society. Its vision of a culture stifled by materialistic values emerges not just through its central narratives, but through its apparently incidental characters and scenes. The chief of its several plots centres on John Harmon who returns to England as his father's heir. He is believed drowned under suspicious circumstances - a situation convenient to his wish for anonymity until he can evaluate Bella Wilfer whom he must marry to secure his inheritance. The story is filled with colourful characters and incidents - the faded aristocrats and parvenus gathered at the Veneering's dinner table, Betty Higden and her terror of the workhouse and the greedy plottings of Silas Wegg.
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Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend to cart. $1.45, fair condition, Sold by Discover Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toledo, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1978 by Crown Pub.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Noticeably used book. Text is legible but may be soiled and have binding defects. Heavy wear to covers and pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Possible ex library copy, with all the markings/stickers of that library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, and dust jackets may not be included.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend (Penguin Classics) to cart. $1.49, fair condition, Sold by Hippo Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toledo, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Penguin Classics.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Noticeably used book. Text is legible but may be soiled and have binding defects. Heavy wear to covers and pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Possible ex library copy, with all the markings/stickers of that library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, and dust jackets may not be included.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend to cart. $1.49, fair condition, Sold by Hippo Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toledo, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1971 by Penguin Classics.
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Noticeably used book. Text is legible but may be soiled and have binding defects. Heavy wear to covers and pages contain marginal notes, underlining, and or highlighting. Possible ex library copy, with all the markings/stickers of that library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, and dust jackets may not be included.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend (Oxford World's Classics) to cart. $1.50, good condition, Sold by Discover Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Toledo, OH, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Oxford University Press.
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Seller's Description:
Good. All pages and cover are intact. Possible slightly loose binding, minor highlighting and marginalia, cocked spine or torn dust jacket. Maybe an ex-library copy and not include the accompanying CDs, access codes or other supplemental materials.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend to cart. $1.61, good condition, Sold by Once Upon A Time Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Tontitown, AR, UNITED STATES, published 1971 by Penguin Classics.
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This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear. This is a used book in good condition and may show some signs of use or wear.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend (Wordsworth Classics) to cart. $1.72, good condition, Sold by Off The Shelf rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Imperial, MO, UNITED STATES, published 1997 by Wordsworth Editions.
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The item shows wear from consistent use, but it remains in good condition and works perfectly. All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May NOT include discs, access code or other supplemental materials.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend (Penguin Classics) to cart. $1.91, good condition, Sold by Orion Tech rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Arlington, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Penguin Classics.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend (Penguin Classics) to cart. $1.91, fair condition, Sold by Your Online Bookstore rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Houston, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1998 by Penguin Classics.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 2002 by Modern Library.
Add this copy of Our Mutual Friend Volume One to cart. $1.99, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published by Walter J. Black, Inc.
Dickens' Our Mutual Friend is a great read and this is a good readable addition with good notes. We recommend it.
Leslie
May 14, 2011
My Favorite Dickens novel
I've read 14 Dickens novels (am on my 15th) and have enjoyed this one the most. The plot lines are engrossing -- it's fascinating to see how they intertwine. The male characters and their psychologies are so well drawn that it's hard to imagine they're not real, especially Wegg, Rokesmith, Headstone, and -- as minor as he is -- Twemlow.
The theme of identity plays out on many fascinating levels, like peeling an onion. There are identities that are kept secret, deliberately misrepresented, misunderstood, self-questioned, and illusory. It makes for a fascinating psychological study.
Setting is particularly well done in this novel -- the river is so predominant that many scholars consider it one of the book's characters, and rightly so.
Some plot denouements require suspension of disbelief (doesn't Dickens usually?). They don't detract from the novel as a whole, however; instead they invite reflection, discussion, and debate.
One of the things I especially like about this novel is its emotional complexity. This is perhaps a darker novel than Dickens fans have come to expect, but there are still laugh-out-loud moments as well as scenes that invite long and deep reflection. And, as in most Dickens novels, there are female characters -- like Lizzie Hexam -- whom you sometimes just want to shake and say, "Shape up!" or "Get a grip!"
This is a novel that completely engaged me on both an intellectual and emotional level. I heartily recommend it. And don't try to speed through it. Go slowly and savor it.
Frances G
May 1, 2011
Charles Dickens in writing this book helped us to know about child labor, sanitary conditions, distinctions between the rich and the poor. He also was what I would say our original environmentalist. This book should be on the reading list in our high schools.
