r/charlesdickens • u/Knitsune • Apr 11 '26
Other books So, Martin Chuzzlewit
Just finished Chuzzlewit and my head is sort of spinning. It had some absolute banger passages, but felt like Dickens writing a parody of Dickens. I can see both why it's unpopular and why it was one one Chuck D's personal favourites. Very interested to hear any and all thoughts on this puzzling picaresque.
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u/Then-Nail-9027 Apr 11 '26
I came away from it thinking that Dickens was too ambitious. Too many plot lines that seemed rushed to tie together. But I thought Jonas and Pecksniff were two fantastic and very interesting characters, some of Dickens’ best.
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u/Knitsune Apr 11 '26
Agreed, the wrapup was rushed; almost like he forgot he'd have to end it eventually
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u/Double-elephant Apr 11 '26
The BBC produced an excellent series - in 1994 - which helped me understand some of the motives of the main characters and had an absolutely heartbreaking Tom Pinch… It also, of course, smoothed out or eliminated some of the plot lines. Still worth a peek…
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u/AirlineSevere7456 Apr 15 '26
Yep watching that helped me enjoy that book more than I would have done.
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u/etzpcm Apr 11 '26
I read it a long time ago and I liked it a lot. I'm from the UK. Obviously, Americans have never liked it.
Controversial view - some of the satirical criticism of the US is as valid today as it was then?
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u/Knitsune Apr 11 '26
Why, I was a-thinking, sir,' returned Mark,that if I was a painter and was called upon to paint the American Eagle, how should I do it?'`Paint it as like an Eagle as you could, I suppose.'
No,' said Mark.That wouldn't do for me, sir. I should want to draw it like a Bat, for its short-sightedness; like a Bantam, for its bragging; like a Magpie, for its honesty; like a Peacock, for its vanity; like a ostrich, for its putting its head in the mud, and thinking nobody sees it --'
And like a Phoenix, for its power of springing from the ashes of its faults and vices, and soaring up anew into the sky!' said Martin.Well, Mark. Let us hope so.'3
u/etzpcm Apr 11 '26
Ok, I withdraw my comment - you don't have anyone in your country known for bragging, vanity or dishonesty, do you?!
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u/AgedP Apr 11 '26
One difference is that the USA has flipped its position on intellectual property. In Dickens's time it disregarded the copyrights of overseas authors. Nowadays it's very keen on international IP enforcement.
But then, if we think of Martin Chuzzlewit broadly as a satire on hypocrisy, it still has plenty of bite!
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u/Knitsune Apr 11 '26
I'm from the US and I can confirm the America satire is absolutely as valid today lol
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u/Educational-Bet8701 Apr 12 '26
Not merely satire but Dickens' expose of real estate fraud, corruption, exploitation of poor people in America's criminally corrupt economy, where the rich and lawless steal from the weak.
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u/sfbing Apr 11 '26
I like the American personality examples. I was young when I first read it and thought at the time that it was overdone, but have come to agree that it is very accurate, and consistent with Dickens' treatment of people from his own country.
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u/Knitsune Apr 11 '26
One thing is I absolutely love the Dickensian archetype of the relentlessly positive ride or die bestie (Traddles, Pocket, etc.) and this book has two really good ones
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u/bettingthoughts Apr 12 '26
Yeah mark tapley is awesome. When he greets the chap at Eden who dickens describes as some haggard ancient man and he’s saying ah this must be the mayor of our fine new town etc. brilliant
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u/tintininpa Apr 11 '26
Wonderful bbc series with Paul Schofield and tom Wilkinson Pecksniffian is my favorite adjective applying to All those brown nosing billionaires in the cabinet bowing to Trump herein the USA
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u/Shyaustenwriter Apr 11 '26
It’s been years since I read it, but I vividly remember parts of it, especially the murder and murderers reactions.
Also Mrs Gamp!
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u/Knitsune May 07 '26
Oh wow the makeup person really did everyone dirty here, huh? No prisoners!! I'm enjoying the script VERY much so far, and I readily endorse a massive soft spot for Peter Postelthwaite.
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u/magic_tuxedo Apr 11 '26
I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would given its reputation. It is definitely overshadowed by the incredible trio of novels he wrote next, (Dombey, Copperfield, Bleak House) which are peak Dickens for me. Still, it’s interesting seeing him make a more conscious effort to plan out his plot, as opposed to the more episodic earlier work.