Saturday, February 13, 2021

Martin Chuzzlewit - Charles Dickens


Martin Chuzzlewit is basically a story in search of a hero, with a gallery of rogues and some exceedingly dreary scenes. Dickens wrote
A Christmas Carol in the midst of writing this serialized novel, and the basic premise of a grumpy old man redeeming himself is played out in Martin Chuzzlewit but in a much more circuitous way than in A Christmas Carol.

There were a few characters that I loved - Mark Tapley and John Westlock and Tom Pinch, once he grew a spine - but there were so many that were simply bad company, including both Martins until near the end.  Mr. Pecksniff makes my skin crawl, Jonas Chuzzlewit rivals Bill Sykes as a villain, Cherry and Merry Pecksniff and the various Chuzzlewit relations are all deplorable, and a little of Sairy Gamp goes a long way. The back of the book I read claims that this is Dickens's "comic  masterpiece." I really wouldn't put it in the category of comedy. I found it mostly leaden with a few bright spots.

As I knew he would be, Dickens was unrelentingly hard on the Americans that Mark and Martin the younger encountered in the US. I can appreciate that Dickens had lots of issues during his own first visit to the US, but he really beat the topic to death. I can recall only one decent American among the dozen or so that figured in the story, and it became quite tedious. It was clear that Dickens had an axe to grind, and I was so relieved when Martin and Mark returned to England, and the real story resumed.

I will say, though, that there is some good writing and more descriptive passages than I remember seeing in the earlier novels, so I think Martin Chuzzlewit marks somewhat of a transition in Dickens's evolution as a writer. However, I think the serialization approach to writing a novel presents problems that revising and editing and cooling off would have mitigated. 

Not sure this one will make it on to the reread pile, but now I have only two Dickens novels left to read for the first time, Barnaby Rudge and The Mystery of Edwin Drood.

As you might have guessed, this book qualifies for the Back to the Classics Challenge for 2021, in the "new-to-you by a favorite author" category.

There is a 1994 BBC mini-series that I may watch to see how the screenwriters dealt with the novel. I think Julia Sawalha (aka Lydia Bennet) is perfectly cast at Merry Pecksniff.



12 comments:

  1. I found the Pecksniffs to be awful, but entertainingly awful. Among the better of Dickens' villains, I thought, and really the main thing I remember about the novel.

    The whole U.S. trip *is* dull and needed to end much sooner.

    I don't really remember Barnaby Rudge very well, but Drood is great! Highly recommended, even if it is unfinished.

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  2. Congratulations on reading your way through Dickens' novels with only two books left. He is a great writer. I am looking for another Dickens' book to tackle myself but based on your insightful review Martin Chuzzlewit isn't it. Too many unpleasant characters as you say and the generalization about Americans would spoil my enjoyment of the book. I mean my patriotism has taken a hit these days but I am more willing to take criticism about America from Sinclair Lewis. Having grown up in the US he knew the country in a way that Dickens did not. In fact its high time for a reread of Main Street, Elmer Gantry erc.

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  3. I guess in theory I would like to read more Dickens but the only one I really enjoyed was A Tale of Two Cities and that took some effort. However, I am definitely able to enjoy them vicariously!

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  4. Yay for you for finishing another Dickens. This is probably one I will never even try; though there are things I really admire about Dickens and his writing, he's not a favorite of mine.

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  5. Great analysis! I have not read this one yet. I will at some point. I have Nicholas Nickleby on my list for this year.

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  6. Well, at least you get to cross this off your list... and you're one step closer to your goal. But this is one Dickens I will never read, lol.

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  7. Martin Chuzzlewit was the first Dickens novel I read and I didn’t want it to end! I haven’t re-read it, however, so I don’t know how I would feel about it now after having read discovered favorites like Bleak House, Great Expectations, etc.

    Mark Tapely (Jolly!) has got to be one of the best characters ever. I loved when, struck by fever in the swamps of the American wilderness, he wrote “Jolly” on his slate when he couldn’t speak. I agree that Dickens was hard on Americans – but for my part, I thought much of the hypocrisy and chauvinistic patriotism he depicted is not uncommon in many American attitudes. Some of Dickens' perceptions are also echoed in his non-fiction book, American Notes. As I recall, his experiences and the people he met in Boston were much more pleasant and congenial. He really was picking on the worst of the worst for Martin Chuzzlewit in the hopes of selling more copies to his UK readership, I think.

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    1. I agree about Mark Tapley - he was by far my favorite character and I wish Dickens had chosen to tell his story rather than that of the Martins. I found his mission in life to be unique and endearing, and his compassion, fortitude, and jolliness are admirable.

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  8. It's been so long since I read this that I literally have no memory of it at all, except that someone goes to America (and Americans are shown to be simply dreadful). Maybe that's why it's one of Dickens' least popular novels? In comparison, I really liked Barnaby Rudge -- at least I remember the basic plot! And good for you, reading all of Dickens!

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  9. From what you say, it seems like too many rogues and in need of someone to like or follow. I didn't realize Dickens had unfavorable feelings about Americans -- interesting!

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  10. I thought this story was much easier to follow than some of his others. I think I've read just about all of his books except for the two you mentioned and the Pickwick Papers - for some reason I can't bring myself to start that one.

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    1. If you do decide to read Pickwick, I strongly recommend skipping the first chapter, skimming it, or plowing through it knowing that it is dull and off-putting and not at all representative of the rest of the novel. I honestly think it's one of the worst first chapters of an otherwise great novel.

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