In my first post on this blog I mentioned that I had never read any works of Charles Dickens. Technically, this is true, however I did remember that a high school English teacher did read aloud A Christmas Carol to us one year. I do want to read some Dickens at some point . . . but not right now. So, for all you fans of classic British Literature, I bring you guest blogger Valerie Marvin.

Valerie has a BA in Russian and Eastern European Studies from the University of Michigan and an MA in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University. She works in a prominent historic building in Michigan and blogs about architecture, sewing, baking, cheesy musicals, and other items of interest at The Victorians Didn't Even Like Pink! Her favorite books are Jane Eyre, Crime and Punishment, and Little Women.

On to her review . . .

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A couple of months ago, a friend from work and I decided to do something a bit crazy. We decided that over the next couple years, we are going to read, together, all of Charles Dickens’ novels, in chronological order. Yes, yes, I know. We’re gluttons for punishment . . . but what else do you expect from two people who spent their years in college studying American, British, and Russian literature? If any of you are also crazy enough to think that this sort of thing sounds like fun, however, you’re welcome to jump in at any time. Our rule is one novel a month, every other month.

We started off in March by reading The Pickwick Papers. Before we started, I really didn’t know what I was getting into, as my only experience with Pickwick was the reference to it in Little Women. (Remember the paper that the girls write, with Beth’s story about the squash? I love that chapter!) I assumed that like much of Dickens’ writing, it would be a little dark and a bit grim. Boy, was I surprised! Instead of sinking into a thick, London fog-like gloom, I found myself laughing out loud multiple times. This is not the dark Dickens I had read before . . . this was hilarious satire!

The Pickwick Papers is less of a chronological novel than a series of adventures had by four well-meaning but rather bumbling men (Pickwick, Snodgrass, Tupman, and Winkle) who have nothing to do but travel around England, going from inn to inn, and generally getting themselves into scrapes, as Jo March would say. Be it a local election (my favorite part), a troublesome romance, or an ill-planned hunting adventure, the four gentleman never fail to act rather silly and prove that they are not really experts at anything, despite their claims. It is a refreshing change from most 19th century British classics, full of perfectly choreographed hunts and elegant balls. Instead of waltzing their way through the novel, these four lovable gents trip, gallop, and occasionally fall flat on their faces in the mud.

The most famous character from the novel, ironically, is Mr. Pickwick’s servant, the venerable Sam Weller. Street-wise Weller, with his thick lower-class accent is a perfect literary foil to his master, who generally looks to Sam to get him out of sticky situations. Sam is gallantly loyal to Pickwick, whom he guides with a gentle, non-obtrusive hand out of many rather awkward situations. Sam’s father, Mr. Weller (or is it Veller?), is also another likable character with a great sense of humor. I often found myself snickering over his complaints about his wife, who spends a great deal of time singing the praises of her tipsy minister (who professes to be a teetotaler) and raising money to send flannelettes to the poor orphans in Africa. (Think about that one for a minute.)

Another interesting thing about Pickwick is the fact that bits and pieces of many of Dickens later novels manifest themselves in one way or another at random intervals. Some, like the old man who is visited by ghosts from his past in a graveyard, are quite obvious. Others, like Pickwick’s brief stay in the poorhouse, remind the reader of several of Dickens’ other works, including Oliver Twist and David Copperfield. Dickens also has a bit to say about the legal system—perhaps a foreshadowing of Bleak House?

If Pickwick has one major flaw, it is the length of the novel, which can get a bit tedious at over 700 pages. By the end I found I had to remind myself of who some of the characters were (there are a lot of them!) and how exactly they all connected together. The last few chapters seemed a bit rushed, as Dickens worked to tie up a lot of loose strings and settle everyone in secure and happy situations.

Despite these flaws, though, I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Pickwick Papers, and would recommend it to anyone who appreciates satire, anyone who has read too many novels about refined British gentlemen, or anyone who cares to get a glimpse into the mind of a young and talented Charles Dickens.