Charles Dickens: Our Mutual Friend

THEMES:
~ A society dominated by money; pursuit of wealth; ostentatious display of wealth.
~ The river: both nourisher of life, and bringer of death.
~ The undoing of some characters, and the redemption of others.

Year the First, 2010-11

Book The First: The Cup and the Lip

~ 18 September 2010 ~
1: On the Look Out [Gaffer Hexam, Lizzie, Riderhood] ~ Entire.
2: The Man From Somewhere [Veneerings & their oldest Friends] ~ Entire.
3: Another Man [Charley; Police; Handford; Inquest] ~ Entire.

~ 16 October ~
4: The R. Wilfer Family [Rokesmith arrives] ~ Entire.
5. Boffin's Bower [introducing Mr Wegg] ~ Entire.

~ 20 November ~
6: Cut Adrift [Abbey Potterson's Six Jolly Fellowship Porters] ~ Entire.
7: Mr Wegg Looks After Himself [Mr Venus's bone trade] – Entire.

~ 15 January 2011 ~
8: Mr Boffin In Consultation [Lightwood, Rokesmith] ~ Entire.
9: Mr & Mrs Boffin In Consultation [Milveys & Wilfers] ~ Entire.

~ 19 February ~
10: Marriage Contract [Sophronia Akershem + Alfred Lammle] ~ Entire.
11: Podsnappery ~ Entire.
12: The Sweat of An Honest Man's Brow ~ OMIT.

~ 26 March ~
13: Tracking The Bird Of Prey ~ Entire.
14: The Bird Of Prey Brought Down ~ Entire.
15: Two New Servants ~ Entire.
16: Minders & Re-Minders ~ OMIT.
17: A Dismal Swamp ~ OMIT.

Book The Second: Birds of a Feather

~ 16 April ~
1: Of an Educational Character [Bradley Headstone; Doll's Dressmaker] ~ Entire.
2: Still Educational ~ Entire.

~ 21 May ~
3: A Piece Of Work ~ OMIT.
4: Cupid Prompted ~ OMIT.
5: Mercury Prompting [Fascination Fledgeby & “Come up and be dead!”] ~ Entire.
6: A Riddle Without an Answer [Wrayburn against Headstone] ~ Entire.

Year the Second, 2011-12

Book The Second: Birds of a Feather
(continued)

~ 17 September 2011 ~
7: In Which A Friendly Move is Originated [Wegg's & Venus's transactions] ~ Entire.
8: In Which An Innocent Elopement ... ~ OMIT.
9: In Which The Orphan Makes His Will ~ OMIT.
10: A Successor ~ OMIT.
11: Some Affairs Of The Heart ~ OMIT.
12: More Birds Of Prey [Pleasant Riderhood & the Seafarer] ~ Entire.
13: A Solo and A Duett ~ 4 pages to “... poison had been given.”
14: Strong Of Purpose ~ OMIT.

~ 15 October ~
15: The Whole Case So Far ~ Entire.
16: An Anniversary Occasion ~ Entire.

Book The Third: A Long Lane

~ 19 November ~
1: Lodgers in Queer Street ~ OMIT.
2: A Respected Friend in a New Aspect ~ Entire.
3: The Same Respected Friend in More Respects Than One ~ Entire.
4: A Happy Return Of The Day ~ OMIT.
5: The Golden Dustman Falls Into Bad Company ~ Entire.
6: The Golden Dustman Falls Into Worse ... ~ OMIT.
7: The Friendly Move Takes Up ... ~ OMIT.

~ 21 January 2012 ~
8: The End of A Long Journey ~ OMIT.
9: Somebody Becomes the Subject of a Prediction ~ OMIT.
10: Scouts Out ~ Entire.
11: In The Dark ~ Entire.
12: Meaning Mischief ~ 6pp to “... the corner from the Albany.”

~ 18 February ~
13: Give A Dog A Bad Name ... ~ OMIT.
14: Mr Wegg Prepares a Grindstone ... ~ OMIT.
15: The Golden Dustman At His Worst ~ Entire.
16: The Feast Of The Three Hobgoblins ~ OMIT.
17: A Social Chorus ~ Entire.

Book The Fourth:
A Turning

~ 17 March ~
1: Setting Traps ~ Entire.
2: The Golden Dustman Rises A Little ~ OMIT.
3: The Golden Dustman Sinks Again ~ OMIT.
4: A Runaway Match ~ OMIT.
5: Concerning The Mendicant's Bride ~ Entire.

~ 21 April ~
6: A Cry For Help ~ Entire.
7: Better To Be Abel Than Cain ~ Entire.
8: A Few Grains Of Pepper ~ OMIT.
9: Two Places Vacated ~ First 4 pages.
10: The Dolls' Dressmaker Discovers ... ~ OMIT.
11: Effect Is Given To ... ~ OMIT.
12: The Passing Shadow ~ OMIT.
13: Showing How The Golden Dustman ... ~ OMIT.
14: Checkmate To The Friendly Move ~ OMIT.

~ 19 May ~
15. What Was Caught In The Friendly Traps That Were Set ~ Entire.
16. Persons And Things In General ~ Entire.
17. The Voice Of Society ~ Entire.

~ ~ ~