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Our Mutual Friend: With fortyone illustrations. From designs by Marcus Stone. | 
| Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher: Scholarly Publishing Office, University of Michigan Library
Category: Book
List Price: $29.99
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Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 2324657
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 518
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.2 x 1.2
ISBN: 1425557600
EAN: 9781425557607
ASIN: 1425557600
Publication Date: December 22, 2005
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Product Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program.
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| Customer Reviews:
Romance, Mystery, Suspense, Comedy, + Terror. July 28, 2006
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
To be sure, Charles Dickens lived on for 5 more years after he finished this book, but he was very ill when he wrote it. Nevertheless, "Our Mutual Friend" shows some of Dickens's strongest writing. (Fortunately, this book unlike "Edwin Drood" was finished.) This book consists of several plots that actually come together very well. We are introduced to Graffer Hexham and Riderhood. They take part in criminal activity together, but Mr. Hexham is starting to get cold feet and wants out. Riderhood is guilty of murder, and the victim is supposedly the wealthy John Harmon. Well, someone did die. But it wasn't John Harmon. He uses the alias of "Rokesmith" and becomes a clerk in Mr. Boffins's employ. Moving on, Alfred Lammle and Sophronia marry under the impression that the marriage is financially beneficial. It isn't, and they decide to get revenge by making everyone miserable. They want to put Georgiana Podsnap in a bad marriage. The Lammles are intimate in public, but cold in private. People claim that Dickens did not like lawyers, but quite a few like Mr. Perker, Mr. Snubbins, Mr. Stryver, Mr. Jaggers, and Mr. Grewgious come off quite well. (I myself don't share the opinion. There are some bad lawyers, but as I pointed out, some come off very well.) Mortimer Lightwood is yet another lawyer that seems to come off well. Along with Eugene Wrayburn he is investigating the murder. Riderhood says the dead Graffer Hexham confessed to the murder. But we can hardly believe this. We later meet the school master Bradley Headstone. He is full of impressive knowledge and musical talent. When Bradley and Eugene meet, Eugene makes some uncalled for comments, and Bradley keeps his words civil, but his fists clench. (Indication of the horror to come.) Interestingly, Eugene's friend Lightwood thinks Eugene's persuit of Lizzie Hexham (the object of Bradley Headstone's desire) is inappropriate. We later meet Riderhood's daughter who does not approve of her father's criminal actions. About half way through the book, Rokesmith reveals to us (and no other character) that he is the presumed dead John Harmon, but he is not sure if he should reveal to the world he is alive. (Dickens seemed to like the technique of people being presumed dead, when in fact they were not.) Well, Boffin must know because Harmon changed his will in Boffin's favor. By some miracle, the miserable Lammles make it to their 1st anniversary, though Sophronia is starting to feel guilty about the plot against Georgiana. Then comes the romance plot. "Rokesmith" likes Bella (who has a position in the Boffins' house), but Bella is more concerned about marrying into money. (Though she never stops loving her poor father.) If "Rokesmith" tells all, he could probably have her, but how does he know she really loves him? We might speculate that this reflects Dickens's relationship with the much younger Ellen. Did she love him just because he was Charles Dickens? Well, Silas Wegg and Mr. Venus discover the altered will of John Harmon and blackmail Boffin with it. One flaw is that Boffin doesn't confront them with the truth. (The reason is obvious. If he tells what he knows, the story is ruined.) Bradley Headstone is still sad that Lizzie seems to prefer Eugene, and Headstone degenerates to the point of forming an alliance with the dark Riderhood. Well, in a stage where Mr. Boffin and "Rokesmith" bluff very well, they argue to the point where "Rokesmith" is terminated and Bella is in despair. (The motive is obvious, but Bella doesn't know it.) Well, Bella and "Rokesmith" fall in love and agree to marry. (Though we may wonder if Harmon/Rokesmith is enjoying this too much.) Moving on, Georgiana Podsnap comes into some money and like an angel is willing to help the Lammles. In a moment of insanity and rage, Bradley Headstone (disguised as Riderhood) assaults Eugene and almost kills him. Though, unlike Bill Sikes (from "Oliver Twist") Bradley Headstone does regret and suffer for his actions. Lizzie and Eugene marry and of course Eugene gets better. It may be that Charles Dickens himself knew John Harmon went too far with his joke when he almost gets arrested for his own murder! But he gets off and he brings Bella into the typical romantic happy ending. Sadly, Bradley Headstone is not part of the story's happy end. But he goes out with such style. He has a dramatic confrontation with Riderhood and Charles Dickens writes his arguably most frightening line ever for Bradley Headstone to speak: "I'll hold you living, and I'll hold you dead!" Overall, this is a great book that has romance, suspense, mystery, comedy, and terror. We should be thankful that despite his failing health, Charles Dickens lived to finish it.
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