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The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club #2
The Pickwick Papers, Volume II
Charles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870), also known as "Boz," was the foremost English novelist of the Victorian era, as well as a vigorous social campaigner. Considered one of the English language's greatest writers, he was acclaimed for his rich storytelling and memorable characters, and achieved massive worldwide popularity in his lifetime. The popularity of his novels and short stories has meant that not one has ever gone out of print. Dickens wrote serialised novels, the usual format for fiction at the time, and each new part of his stories was eagerly anticipated by the reading public. Among his best-known works are Sketches by Boz (1836), The Pickwick Papers (1837), Oliver Twist (1838), Nicholas Nickleby (1839), Barnaby Rudge (1841), A Christmas Carol (1843), Martin Chuzzlewit (1844), David Copperfield (1850), Bleak House (1853), Little Dorrit (1857), A Tale of Two Cities (1859), Great Expectations (1861) and Our Mutual Friend (1865).
464 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1836
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408 people want to read
About the author
Charles Dickens
12.4k books30.8k followersCharles John Huffam Dickens (1812-1870) was a writer and social critic who created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime, and by the twentieth century critics and scholars had recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity.
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms.
Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction. Dickens's creative genius has been praised by fellow writers—from Leo Tolstoy to George Orwell and G. K. Chesterton—for its realism, comedy, prose style, unique characterisations, and social criticism. On the other hand, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Virginia Woolf complained of a lack of psychological depth, loose writing, and a vein of saccharine sentimentalism. The term Dickensian is used to describe something that is reminiscent of Dickens and his writings, such as poor social conditions or comically repulsive characters.
On 8 June 1870, Dickens suffered another stroke at his home after a full day's work on Edwin Drood. He never regained consciousness, and the next day he died at Gad's Hill Place. Contrary to his wish to be buried at Rochester Cathedral "in an inexpensive, unostentatious, and strictly private manner," he was laid to rest in the Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey. A printed epitaph circulated at the time of the funeral reads: "To the Memory of Charles Dickens (England's most popular author) who died at his residence, Higham, near Rochester, Kent, 9 June 1870, aged 58 years. He was a sympathiser with the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed; and by his death, one of England's greatest writers is lost to the world." His last words were: "On the ground", in response to his sister-in-law Georgina's request that he lie down.
(from Wikipedia)
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 12, 2018
I tried to read Pickwick 3 times, which delayed my further reading of novels by Dickens. Occasionally, I try Dickens, but I don't really enjoy him as much as I do Anthony Trollope or George Eliot, for example. It's just a matter of preference really.
February 5, 2025
To ciekawe, że gdy idioci kończą szczęśliwie, to ostatecznie radujesz się wraz z nimi. Bo pomimo wszystkiego, to byli poczciwi idioci.
December 17, 2013
Its part of a complete Pickwick Papers. I enjoyed it, but the humour of Victorian times might escape the current generation. Those who make an attempt will like it immensely.
September 24, 2022
O czym to było? Tego nie wie nikt.
June 6, 2023
Basically, it is Seinfeld of the 19th century :) with a dash of Quixote and occasionally strange gloomy stories out of the plot told by strangers. Dickens is a great advocate to kindness, elegance and social justice. Very light, hilarious at times and with brilliant and skillfully built unforgettable characters (my favorite are Sam and mr Jingle, and Pickwick, of course) I wish I could give it 5 stars. But it being literally a sitcom (Dickens was publishing a chapter at a time as I understand, in a magazine) the overall form was not an objective and this makes it a bit difficult to read in one go.
January 23, 2012
Actually reading part one, but couldn't find it listed. My Dickens kick continues...
January 26, 2013
This is not one of my favourites of Dickens!
April 26, 2021
The early 19th Century comes to life in this second volume of Dickens "The Pickwick Papers".
Dickens pokes fun at some of the members of English society...especially lawyers... as he continues to share with his readers the exploits of Samuel Pickwick and his friends.
A lot of fun along the way especially with the character of Samuel who is Pickwick's man-servant.
Dickens pokes fun at some of the members of English society...especially lawyers... as he continues to share with his readers the exploits of Samuel Pickwick and his friends.
A lot of fun along the way especially with the character of Samuel who is Pickwick's man-servant.
March 2, 2019
Dickens first novel. Funnier than I remembered.
February 16, 2013
Am 13.05.1827 beschließen Samuel Pickwick, ein wohlhabender, älterer Herr und Gründer des nach ihm benannten Pickwick Clubs, Mr Nathaniel Winkle, Mr Augustus Snodgrass, and Mr Tracy Tupman, ihr schönes Heimatland zu bereisen und zu erforschen. Auf dieser Reise lernen sie allerhand freundliche und auch seltsame Menschen und Gebräuche kennen.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club oder kurz The Pickwick Papers (auf Deutsch einfach die Pickwickier) ist Charles Dickens Debut Roman. Das Buch wurde, genau wie seine anderen Romane, als Fortsetzungegeschichte veröffentlicht, was man diesem Werk teilweise auch deutlich anmerkt.
Der Roman ist eine Mischung aus Rahmenhandlung und eingebetteten Kurzgeschichten. Da ist einmal die Reise der vier Junggesellen und ihre Erlebnisse und dann sind da viele kleine Kurzgeschichten, die in diese Rahmenhandlung eingebettet sind.
Die Hauptgeschichte ist eine sarkastische Abrechnung mit all jenen Themen, die Dickens auch durch seine weiteren Werke begleiten werden. Spitzzüngig zieht er über Politik und Politiker, über das englische Rechtssystem, die Schuldgefängnisse, verzweifelte alte Jungfern und Witwen auf der Suche nach einem Mann und die Hilflosigkeit von alten männlichen Singles her.
Die Charaktere sind einmalig und überzeichnet, wie man das auch aus den späteren Romanen des Autors kennt. Da ist Mr. Pickwick, reich, wohlwollend, philanthropisch und komplett lebensfremd und hilflos ohne seinen intelligenten und gewitzten Diener Sam Weller. Da ist der narkoleptische, adipöse kleine Dienstbote und der nicht gar so gewitzte Betrüger Mr. Jingle. Und da sind die Geistergeschichten, mit denen Dickens auch berühmt wurde. Diese Grusel- und Geistergeschichten sind als abgeschlossene Kurzgeschichten in die Rahmenhandlung eingebettet und lassen bereits viele der Motive erkennen, die man aus anderen berühmten Erzählungen des Autors kennt. Besonders jedoch überrascht die Geschichte, in der ein zu Unrecht im Schuldgefängnis inhaftierter, der Frau und Kind verliert, grausam Rache nimmt, an jenen, die er für schuldig an seinem Schicksal hält. Nachdem er selbst zu Reichtum gekommen ist, nimmt er langsam, über Jahre hinweg, grausam Rache. Das erinnert stark an Dumas Graf von Monte Christo, während die Geschichte von Tom Smart schon Motive der berühmten Weihnachtsgeschichte enthält.
Auch wenn der Roman durchweg humorvoll ist, so zieht er sich teilweise auch über weite Strecken. Es passiert nur wenig, was wohl daran liegt, dass der Roman in 20 Episoden veröffentlicht wurde, die wohl auch alleine funktionieren mussten, falls die Leser die anderen Kapitel nicht kannten. Auch unbefriedigend ist die Tatsache, dass das Verhältnis, in dem die Pickwickier zueinander stehen, ihr Alter und ihre Herkunft nur im Nachhinein erklärt werden und man sich als Leser nur schwer ein Bild von ihnen machen kann. Für mich blieben daher Winkle, Snodgrass und Tupman ein wenig farblos, und besonders zu Anfang, schwer unterscheidbar.
Fazit: Ein gelungener Debütroman und doch bereits typisch Dickens. Leider zieht er sich über weite Strecken und es gibt keinen wirklichen Höhepunkt. Die Geschichte plätschert konstant unterhaltsam vor sich hin.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club oder kurz The Pickwick Papers (auf Deutsch einfach die Pickwickier) ist Charles Dickens Debut Roman. Das Buch wurde, genau wie seine anderen Romane, als Fortsetzungegeschichte veröffentlicht, was man diesem Werk teilweise auch deutlich anmerkt.
Der Roman ist eine Mischung aus Rahmenhandlung und eingebetteten Kurzgeschichten. Da ist einmal die Reise der vier Junggesellen und ihre Erlebnisse und dann sind da viele kleine Kurzgeschichten, die in diese Rahmenhandlung eingebettet sind.
Die Hauptgeschichte ist eine sarkastische Abrechnung mit all jenen Themen, die Dickens auch durch seine weiteren Werke begleiten werden. Spitzzüngig zieht er über Politik und Politiker, über das englische Rechtssystem, die Schuldgefängnisse, verzweifelte alte Jungfern und Witwen auf der Suche nach einem Mann und die Hilflosigkeit von alten männlichen Singles her.
Die Charaktere sind einmalig und überzeichnet, wie man das auch aus den späteren Romanen des Autors kennt. Da ist Mr. Pickwick, reich, wohlwollend, philanthropisch und komplett lebensfremd und hilflos ohne seinen intelligenten und gewitzten Diener Sam Weller. Da ist der narkoleptische, adipöse kleine Dienstbote und der nicht gar so gewitzte Betrüger Mr. Jingle. Und da sind die Geistergeschichten, mit denen Dickens auch berühmt wurde. Diese Grusel- und Geistergeschichten sind als abgeschlossene Kurzgeschichten in die Rahmenhandlung eingebettet und lassen bereits viele der Motive erkennen, die man aus anderen berühmten Erzählungen des Autors kennt. Besonders jedoch überrascht die Geschichte, in der ein zu Unrecht im Schuldgefängnis inhaftierter, der Frau und Kind verliert, grausam Rache nimmt, an jenen, die er für schuldig an seinem Schicksal hält. Nachdem er selbst zu Reichtum gekommen ist, nimmt er langsam, über Jahre hinweg, grausam Rache. Das erinnert stark an Dumas Graf von Monte Christo, während die Geschichte von Tom Smart schon Motive der berühmten Weihnachtsgeschichte enthält.
Auch wenn der Roman durchweg humorvoll ist, so zieht er sich teilweise auch über weite Strecken. Es passiert nur wenig, was wohl daran liegt, dass der Roman in 20 Episoden veröffentlicht wurde, die wohl auch alleine funktionieren mussten, falls die Leser die anderen Kapitel nicht kannten. Auch unbefriedigend ist die Tatsache, dass das Verhältnis, in dem die Pickwickier zueinander stehen, ihr Alter und ihre Herkunft nur im Nachhinein erklärt werden und man sich als Leser nur schwer ein Bild von ihnen machen kann. Für mich blieben daher Winkle, Snodgrass und Tupman ein wenig farblos, und besonders zu Anfang, schwer unterscheidbar.
Fazit: Ein gelungener Debütroman und doch bereits typisch Dickens. Leider zieht er sich über weite Strecken und es gibt keinen wirklichen Höhepunkt. Die Geschichte plätschert konstant unterhaltsam vor sich hin.
May 30, 2021
Essere amante di quelli che io chiamo “libri vita” è veramente difficile. Tale avversità è data dal fatto che qualunque libro sia quello che si va a concludere non lo si possa fare senza sincero dispiacere. In questo caso si tratta del primo romanzo di Charles Dickens, scritto immediatamente dopo i suoi primi bozzetti.
Come psicologo esperto, il buon Carlo per la prima volta ha indagato in quest’opera la varietà dell’animo umano, “senza mai pentirsene” come dichiarerà lo stesso protagonista tra le pagine finali della storia, denotandone le innumerevoli sfaccettature.
Un vero capolavoro dal punto di vista letterario che ha donato all’umanità episodi che una volta letti divengono indelebili, come quello in cui il signor Pickwick cercò nottetempo, di introdursi in un convento di giovani monache, nascondendosi per ore al buio e all’umidità della Londra autunnale.
Un capolavoro dal punto di vista economico, le cui pagine di ogni capitolo sono misurate nel minimo dettaglio al fine di essere comodamente stampate e inserite nel formato giornalistico di quegli anni.
Un capolavoro di fantasia, per gli innumerevoli personaggi espressi, le loro sfaccettature e i loro comportamenti coerenti con il personaggio creato, dall’imprevedibile Jingle, al quieto Snoodgrass.
Un capolavoro dal punto di vista storico, che nasconde sotto l’amaro riso la descrizione di una Londra insensibile e schiava di quel “grande mostro di vetro” del quale poi parlerà Dostoevskij in seguito alla sua visita del 1861.
Elencati dunque questi punti, che cosa dovrei aggiungere di altro per convincere chiunque a gettarsi a capofitto in questa lettura?
Come psicologo esperto, il buon Carlo per la prima volta ha indagato in quest’opera la varietà dell’animo umano, “senza mai pentirsene” come dichiarerà lo stesso protagonista tra le pagine finali della storia, denotandone le innumerevoli sfaccettature.
Un vero capolavoro dal punto di vista letterario che ha donato all’umanità episodi che una volta letti divengono indelebili, come quello in cui il signor Pickwick cercò nottetempo, di introdursi in un convento di giovani monache, nascondendosi per ore al buio e all’umidità della Londra autunnale.
Un capolavoro dal punto di vista economico, le cui pagine di ogni capitolo sono misurate nel minimo dettaglio al fine di essere comodamente stampate e inserite nel formato giornalistico di quegli anni.
Un capolavoro di fantasia, per gli innumerevoli personaggi espressi, le loro sfaccettature e i loro comportamenti coerenti con il personaggio creato, dall’imprevedibile Jingle, al quieto Snoodgrass.
Un capolavoro dal punto di vista storico, che nasconde sotto l’amaro riso la descrizione di una Londra insensibile e schiava di quel “grande mostro di vetro” del quale poi parlerà Dostoevskij in seguito alla sua visita del 1861.
Elencati dunque questi punti, che cosa dovrei aggiungere di altro per convincere chiunque a gettarsi a capofitto in questa lettura?
June 2, 2023
I gave four stars to the first volume of "The Pickwick Papers" on the grounds that, good as it was, it was a bit directionless, so I am going to give five stars to this final part, which has the benefit of more focus and purpose than the first, due to the unfolding events of Mr Pickwick's court case and the prospective love affairs of various characters. I don't think it is a spoiler to say that it all, ultimately, ends well, giving us a final scene of Mr Pickwick crying with happiness as he looks around a joyful table of friends..
"Let us leave our old friend in one of those moments of unmixed happiness, of which, if we seek them, there are ever some, to cheer our transitory existence here. There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. Some men, like bats or owls, have better eyes for the darkness than for the light. We, who have no such optical powers, are better pleased to take our last parting look at the visionary companions of many solitary hours, when the brief sunshine of the world is blazing full upon them"
"Let us leave our old friend in one of those moments of unmixed happiness, of which, if we seek them, there are ever some, to cheer our transitory existence here. There are dark shadows on the earth, but its lights are stronger in the contrast. Some men, like bats or owls, have better eyes for the darkness than for the light. We, who have no such optical powers, are better pleased to take our last parting look at the visionary companions of many solitary hours, when the brief sunshine of the world is blazing full upon them"
March 24, 2021
Je znát, že to vycházelo na pokračování, takže místy to baví a má to spád a místy to dře a sere.
Ale chtěla bych, aby někdo napsala něco podobnýho z dnešní doby.
Ale chtěla bych, aby někdo napsala něco podobnýho z dnešní doby.
November 27, 2022
Un récit plein d'aventures rocambolesques et rafraîchissantes.
December 31, 2023
Loved it! Dear MR Pickwick and friends it was a joy to share your adventures.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews