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Fully entitled «Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty,» this novel was Dickens' first attempt at a historical novel. As such, it is the precursor to his more famous «A Tale of Two Cities,» in which his exploration of mob violence, and especially the effect of public events on individual lives, becomes apparent. This work centers on Barnaby Rudge, a mentally simple son, and his loving mother, who are a part of the small village of Epping Forest, just outside of London. This community displays both ties of enmity and love between its members, but all is threatened when the misguided Lord George Gordon arrives in the village with his followers. Their lives are disrupted and caught up in riots that incite destruction in London. This tangle of events leads to misunderstandings that wrongly sentence Barnaby to mount the scaffold. The climactic conclusion of the novel attests to Dickens' early skill as a writer and makes «Barnaby Rudge» a worthy part of his body of works.

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Regarded by Dickens himself as his best novel upon publication, the experiences of Martin Chuzzlewit relate a tale of familial selfishness and eventual moral redemption. While he is in love with the young Mary Graham, Martin alienates himself from his grandfather and begins working for the corrupt and dishonest Seth Pecksniff. Though he meets the unequivocally kind Tom Pinch during this apprenticeship, Martin is fired and decides to travel to the United States, where he nearly dies. It is in the swampy land of Eden, however, that he reforms, and upon return the crimes of other characters in Dickens's exceptional cast of characters are revealed, particularly those of the arch-villain Jonas Chuzzlewit. A dark comedy full of greed, manipulation, and duplicity intertwined with humility and selfless kindness, «Martin Chuzzlewit» is an exemplary story that carries a timeless message for its readers.

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"The Haunted Man and the Ghost's Bargain" is Charles Dickens 19th century novella that concludes his series of five Christmas books written between 1843 and 1848. It is the story of Professor Redlaw, a chemistry teacher who is constantly brooding over the grief caused by past wrongs done to him. Redlaw is haunted by a spirit who takes from him these painful memories, which leaves him unexpectedly bitter. Ultimately the conflict of the novella is resolved in an uplifting way which asserts the moral of the story, that 'it is important to remember past sorrows and wrongs so that you can then forgive those responsible and, in doing so, unburden your soul and mature as a human being.'

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Widely considered one of Dickens most superb and complete novels, «Bleak House» has a complex plot that contains one of his most elaborate attacks on a flaw of society: the chancery system. The kind John Jarndyce is tied up in litigation that only his wards Richard and Ada care to discuss. He then becomes guardian of Esther, an orphaned young woman who comprises a part of the experimental narration of the novel. A series of events take the vast array of comic and tragic characters from the slums of London to the mansions of noblemen, involving some in treachery and others in discovery. Dickens blends the perfect balance of comedy and social satire in a story that contains mystery, tragedy, murder, redemption, and enduring love.

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Charles Dickens' «A Christmas Carol» is one of the classic heart warming Christmas stories that have delighted readers for decades. «A Christmas Carol» is the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a cold and bitter miser who despises Christmas and everything about it. When the ghost of his old partner Jacob Marley and then three additional ghosts visit him on Christmas Eve he finally learns of the true spirit of Christmas.

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Charles Dickens' «David Copperfield», which originally appeared in serial format between May 1849 and November 1850, is considered as the most autobiographical of all his novels. A classic «Bildungsroman», i.e., a novel of self-cultivation, it is the story of its title character from childhood to maturity which chronicles the struggle between the emotional and moral aspects of his life. Central to the theme of the novel is the idea of «the disciplined heart». Dickens suggests that people basically fall into three categories: those who have one, those who don't, and those who seek to develop one. It is this development in David Copperfield that establishes the principal context of his relationships throughout the novel. Considered by many as one of Dickens' greatest works, «David Copperfield» remains as popular today as when it was first written.

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The final and unfinished novel of Charles Dickens, «The Mystery of Edwin Drood» begins a tale that revolves around John Jasper, choirmaster and opium addict, who is the guardian of his orphaned nephew Edwin Drood. Before the death of his parents, Edwin was promised to marry Rosa Bud, but their affections have cooled upon reaching adulthood. This angers Neville Landless, twin brother of Helena and from Ceylon, who quickly develops feelings for Rosa. Helena soon becomes friends with Rosa, but it takes some time for Edwin and Neville to settle their differences over Rosa. Quickly following their reconciliation, Edwin disappears, and Neville is accused of murdering him. While uncompleted «The Mystery of Edwin Drood» is a worthwhile work just the same whose conclusion, as Dickens intended, will be forever unknown.

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Charles Dickens «The Pickwick Papers» appeared originally in serial form between March 1836 and October 1837. It is a series of loosely related comical adventures of a cast of exaggerated personalities, the principal of which is Mr. Samuel Pickwick, a wealthy old gentleman and the founder of the Pickwick Club. With the introduction of Mr. Pickwick's valet, Sam Weller, in chapter ten, «The Pickwick Papers» gained immense popularity and became one of the first real publishing successes of the pre-Victorian era.

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Fully entitled “Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of ’Eighty,” this novel was Dickens’ first attempt at a historical novel. As such, it is the precursor to his more famous “A Tale of Two Cities”, in which his exploration of mob violence, and especially the effect of public events on individual lives, becomes apparent. This work centers on Barnaby Rudge, a mentally simple son, and his loving mother, who are a part of the small village of Epping Forest, just outside of London. This community displays both ties of enmity and love between its members, but all is threatened when the misguided Lord George Gordon arrives in the village with his followers. Their lives are disrupted and caught up in riots that incite destruction in London. This tangle of events leads to misunderstandings that wrongly sentence Barnaby to mount the scaffold. The climactic conclusion of the novel attests to Dickens’ early skill as a writer and makes “Barnaby Rudge” a worthy selection for fans of the author. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

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Regarded by Charles Dickens as his best novel upon publication, “Martin Chuzzlewit” relates a tale of familial selfishness and eventual moral redemption. First published serially from 1842 to 1844, it is the story of young Martin Chuzzlewit, who has been raised by his grandfather. He has fallen in love with his grandfather’s ward and caretaker, the young orphan Mary Graham. Martin’s grandfather does not approve and young Martin alienates himself from his grandfather and begins working for the corrupt and dishonest Seth Pecksniff. Though he meets the kind Tom Pinch during this apprenticeship, Martin is fired and decides to travel to the United States to find his fortune. However, this new and wild land is a much harsher place than Martin was prepared for and he nearly dies of malaria. The experience matures and improves him though, and upon his return he reconciles with his grandfather and reveals the crimes of other characters in Dickens’s exceptional cast of characters, particularly those of Pecksniff and the arch-villain Jonas Chuzzlewit. A dark comedy, full of greed, manipulation, and duplicity intertwined with humility and generosity, “Martin Chuzzlewit” is an exemplary story that carries a timeless message of selfless kindness for others. This edition includes a biographical afterword.

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