The Pickwick Papers

Original Pickwick cover issued in 1837 with Dickens' autograph — most of Dickens' novels were issued in shilling instalments before being published in the complete volume
Author	Charles Dickens
Country	England
Language	English
Publisher
Publication date	1837
Media type	Serial

The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, better known as The Pickwick Papers, is the first novel by Charles Dickens. It was originally an idea by Robert Seymour, the illustrator, to which Dickens was asked to contribute as an up and coming writer following the success of Sketches by Boz, published in 1836. Dickens, supremely confident as ever, increasingly took over the unsuccessful monthly publication after Seymour had committed suicide. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (446 × 700 pixels, file size: 126 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Pickwick Papers - Project Gutenberg eText 19222 Original Pickwick Cover Issued in 1837 with Dickens Autograph—Most of Dickens Novels were Issued in Shilling Installments before... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 382 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (446 × 700 pixels, file size: 126 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) The Pickwick Papers - Project Gutenberg eText 19222 Original Pickwick Cover Issued in 1837 with Dickens Autograph—Most of Dickens Novels were Issued in Shilling Installments before... Dickens redirects here. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... This article is about coinage. ... For other uses, see Country (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A publisher is a person or entity which engages in the act of publishing. ... Dickens redirects here. ... Robert Seymour may refer to: Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930), English poet Robert Seymour Conway (1864-1933), British classical scholar and comparative philologist Bob Seymour Category: ... Sketches by Boz is a collection of short pieces published by Charles Dickens in 1836. ...

With the introduction of Sam Weller in chapter 10, the book became the first real publishing phenomenon, with bootleg copies, theatrical performances, Sam Weller joke books and other merchandise.

Plot summary

Written for publication as a serial, The Pickwick Papers is a sequence of loosely-related adventures. Its main literary value and appeal is formed by its numerous memorable characters. Each character in The Pickwick Papers, as in many other Dickens novels, is drawn comically, often with exaggerated personalities. The term serial refers to the intrinsic property of a series —namely its order. ...

The novel's main character, Mr. Samuel Pickwick, is a kind and wealthy old gentleman, the founder of the Pickwick Club. Following his description in the text, he is usually portrayed by illustrators as a round-faced, clean-shaven, portly gentleman wearing spectacles. Mr. Pickwick travels with his friends, Mr. Nathaniel Winkle, Mr. Augustus Snodgrass, and Mr. Tracy Tupman, and their peregrinations through the English countryside provide the chief theme of the novel.

Alfred Jingle provides the Papers with an aura of comic villainy. His misadventures repeatedly land the Pickwickians in trouble. (These include Jingle's elopement with the spinster, Aunt Rachael of Dingley Dell manor, misadventures with Col. Slammer, and others).

Other notable adventures include Mr. Pickwick's legal case against his landlady, Mrs Bardell, who (through an apparent misunderstanding on her part) is suing him for the breach of promise to marry her. Another is Mr. Pickwick's incarceration at the Fleet for his stubborn refusal to pay the compensation to her; the unscrupulous Dodson and Fogg's law firm prosecuted poor Pickwick. The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, better known as The Pickwick Papers, is the first novel by Charles Dickens. ... Breach of promise is a former tort. ... Pray remember ye poor debtors: inmates of the Fleet Prison beg passers by for alms. ...

Mr. Pickwick, Sam Weller, and Weller Senior also appear in Dickens's serial, Master Humphrey's Clock. Master Humphreys Clock was a weekly periodical edited and written entirely by Charles Dickens from April 4, 1840— December 4, 1841. ...

Characters in The Pickwick Papers

Central characters

• Mr. Samuel Pickwick

The main protagonist and founder of the Pickwick Club

• Mr. Nathaniel Winkle

Traveling companion and friend of Pickwick's; a reluctant sportsman

• Mr. Augustus Snodgrass

Another companion and friend; an amiable poet

• Mr. Tracy Tupman

Yet another; a very flirtatious man

• Sam Weller

Mr. Pickwick's valet

• Tony Weller

Sam's father; does not really know if his name is written as Veller or Weller

• Mr. Alfred Jingle

A strolling player, and a charlatan

Supporting characters

• Mrs. Bardell

Pickwick's landlady

• Joe

The "fat boy" who consumes great quantities of food and constantly falls asleep in any situation at any time of day; Joe's sleep problem is the origin of the medical term Pickwickian syndrome which ultimately led to the subsequent description of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

• Job Trotter

Mr Jingle's wily servant, whose true slyness is only ever seen in the first few lines of a scene, before he adopts his usual pretence of meekness.

• Mr. Wardle

Owner of a farm in Dingley Dell. Pickwick's friend. Joe is his servant.

• Rachael

The spinster aunt who tries in vain to elope with the unscrupulous Jingle

• Mr. Perker

An attorney of Mr. Pickwick

• Mary

"A well-shaped female servant" and Sam Weller's "Valentine"

The Pickwickian syndrome, also known as obesity hypoventilation syndrome, is the combination of severe obesity and hypoventilation. ... Sleep apnea, sleep apnoea or sleep apnœa is a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. ...

Film, TV or theatrical adaptations

The novel has been filmed at least three times:

• 1913 - a silent short starring John Bunny as Pickwick and H. P. Owen as Sam Weller
• 1921 - The Adventures of Mr Pickwick, silent, starring Frederick Volpe and Hubert Woodward
• 1952 - starring James Hayter and Harry Fowler (the first and only sound version, so far)

There have also been BBC radio and television adaptations. The first TV adaptation was by Constance Cox. Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... This article is about the comedy film. ... Year 1921 (MCMXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar). ... Year 1952 (MCMLII) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... James Hayter (April 23, 1907 – March 27, 1983) was a British actor. ... Harry Fowler, (b. ... For other uses, see BBC (disambiguation). ... Constance Cox born October 25th 1912 died 1998 was script writer who specialised in adaptations of books by Charles Dickens and other classic literature. ...

There was also a London stage musical version entitled Pickwick, by Cyril Ornadel, Wolf Mankowitz, and Leslie Bricusse. It starred Harry Secombe, later to become more famous as Mr. Bumble in the film version of Oliver!. But Pickwick (the musical) was not a success in the United States when it opened there in 1965, and the show was never filmed. It did feature the song If I Ruled the World, which became a modest hit. This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Pickwick was a musical based on Charles Dickenss The Pickwick Papers, which opened on July 4, 1963. ... Cyril Ornadel (b. ... Wolf Mankowitz (born November 7, 1924 - May 20, 1998) was an English writer, playwright and screenwriter. ... Leslie Bricusse (born 29 January 1931) is a British lyricist. ... Sir Harry Donald Secombe, CBE (8 September 1921–11 April 2001) was a Welsh entertainer with a noted fine tenor singing voice and a talent for comedy. ... Oliver Twist is an 1838 novel by Charles Dickens. ... Oliver! is an Academy Award winning film and 1968 musical film directed by Carol Reed and based on the stage musical Oliver!. Both the film and play are based on the famous Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist. ... Pickwick was a musical based on Charles Dickenss The Pickwick Papers, which opened on July 4, 1963. ... Year 1965 (MCMLXV) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. ... If I Ruled the World is a song, originally from the West End musical, Pickwick, based on Charles Dickens The Pickwick Papers. ...

Part of the Pickwick Papers featured in Charles Dickens' Ghost Stories, three scarey animated tales on video (60 minutes):The Ghost in the Wardrobe, The Mail Coach Ghosts, and The Goblin and the Gravedigger.

Publication

The novel was published in 19 issues over 20 months; the last was double-length and cost two shillings. In mourning for his sister-in-law Mary Hogarth, Dickens missed a deadline and consequently there was no number issued in May 1837. Numbers were typically issued on the last day of its given month: This article is about coinage. ...

• I - March 1836 (chapters 1-2);
• II - April 1836 (chapters 3-5);
• III - May 1836 (chapters 6-8);
• IV - June 1836 (chapters 9-11);
• V - July 1836 (chapters 12-14);
• VI - August 1836 (chapters 15-17);
• VII - September 1836 (chapters 18-20);
• VIII - October 1836 (chapters 21-23);
• IX - November 1836 (chapters 24-26);
• X - December 1836 (chapters 27-28);
• XI - January 1837 (chapters 29-31);
• XII - February 1837 (chapters 32-33);
• XIII - March 1837 (chapters 34-36);
• XIV - April 1837 (chapters 37-39);
• XV - June 1837 (chapters 40-42);
• XVI - July 1837 (chapters 43-45);
• XVII - August 1837 (chapters 46-48);
• XVIII - September 1837 (chapters 49-51);
• XIX-XX - October 1837 (chapters 52-56);

It is interesting to keep the number divisions and dates in mind while reading the novel, especially in the early parts. The Pickwick Papers, as Charles Dickens' first novel, is particularly chaotic: the first two numbers featured four illustrations by Robert Seymour and 24 pages of text. Seymour killed himself and was replaced by R.W. Buss for the third number; the format was changed to feature two illustrations and 32 pages of text per issue. Buss didn't work out as an illustrator and was replaced by H.K. "Phiz" Browne for the fourth issue; Phiz continued to work for Dickens for 23 years (he last illustrated A Tale of Two Cities in 1859). His talents in other directions of art were of a very ordinary kind. ... For other uses, see A Tale of Two Cities (disambiguation). ...

Chapters

1. The Pickwickians
2. The first day's journey and the first evening's adventure; with their consequences
3. A new acquaintance. The Stroller's Tale. A disagreeable interruption and an unpleasant encounter
4. A field-day and bivouac. More new friends. An invitation to the country
5. A short one. Showing, among other matters, how Pickwick undertook to drive and Mr. Winkle to ride; and how they both did it
6. An old-fashioned card-party. The clergyman's verses. The story of the convict's return
7. How Mr. Winkle, instead of shooting at the pigeon and killing the crow, shot at the cow and wounded the pigeon; how the Dingley Dell cricket club played All-Muggleton; and how the All-Muggleton dined at the Dingley Dell expense - with other interesting and instructive matters
8. Strongly illustrative of the position that the course of true love is not a railway
9. A discovery and a chase
10. Clearing up all doubts (if any existed) of the disinterestedness of Mr. Jingle's character
11. Involving another journey, and an antiquarian discovery. Regarding Mr. Pickwick's determination to be present at an election, and containing a manuscript of the old clergyman's
12. Descriptive of a very important proceeding on the part of Mr. Pickwick, no less an epoch in his life than in his history
13. Some account of Eatanswill, of the state of parties therein, and of the election of a member to serve in Parliament for that ancient, loyal, and patriotic borough
14. Comprising a brief description of the company at the Peacock assembled, and a tale told by a bagman
15. In which is given a faithful portraiture of two distinguished persons and an accurate description of a public breakfast in their house and grounds, which public breakfast leads to the recognition of an old acquaintance and the commencement of another chapter
16. Too full of adventure to be briefly described
17. Showing that an attack of rheumatism, in some cases, acts as a quickener to inventive genius
18. Briefly illustrative of two points: first, the power of hysterics, and secondly, the force of circumstances
19. A pleasant day, with an unpleasant termination
20. Showing how Dodson and Fogg were men of business, and their clerks men of pleasure; and how an affecting interview took place between Mr. Weller and his long-lost parent; showing also what choice spirits assembled at the Magpie and Stump, and what a capital chapter the next one will be
21. In which the old man lurches forth into his favourite theme and relates a story about a queer client
22. Mr. Pickwick journeys to Ipswich and meets with a romantic adventure with a middle-aged lady in yellow curl-papers
23. In which Mr. Samuel Weller begins to devote his energies to the returen match between himself and Mr. Trotter
24. Wherein Mr. Peter Magnus grows jealous, and the middle-aged lady apprehensive, which brings the Pickwickians within grasp of the law
25. Showing, among a variety of pleasant matters, how majestic and impartial Mr. Nupkins was, and how Mr. Weller returned Mr. Job Trotter's shuttlecock as heavily as it came; with another matter, which will be found in its place
26. Which contains a brief account of the progress of Bardell against Pickwick
27. Samuel Weller makes a pilgrimage to Dorking and beholds his mother-in-law
28. A good-humoured Christmas chapter, containing an account of a wedding, and some other sports beside, which, although in their way even as good customs as marriage itself, are not quite so religiously kept up in these degenerative times
29. The story of the goblins who stole a sexton
30. How the Pickwickians made and cultivated the acquaintance of a couple of nice young men belonging to one of the liberal professions, how they disported themselves on the ice, and how their first visit came to a conclusion
31. Which is all about the law, and sundry great authorities learned therein
32. Describes, far more fully than the court-newsman ever did, a bachelor's party given by Mr. Bob Sawyer at his lodgings in the borough
33. Mr. Weller the elder delivers some critical sentiments respecting literary composition, and, assisted by his son Samuel, pays a small investment of retaliation to the account of the reverend gentleman with the red nose
34. Is wholly devoted to a full and faithful report of the memorable trial of Bardell against Pickwick
35. In which Mr. Pickwick thinks he had better go to Bath, and goes accordingly
36. The chief features of which will be found to be an authentic version of the legend of Prince Bladud, and a most extraordinary calamity that befell Mr. Winkle
37. Honourably accounts for Mr. Weller's absence by describing a soiree to which he was invited and went; also relates how he was entrusted by Mr. Pickwick with a private mission of delicacy and importance
38. How Mr. Winkle, when he stepped out of the frying-pan, walked gently and comfortably into the fire
39. Mr. Samuel Weller, being entrusted with a mission of love, proceeds to execute it; with what success will hereinafter appear
40. Introduces Mr. Pickwick to a new and not-uninteresting scene in the great drama of life
41. What befell Mr. Pickwick when he got into the Fleet; what prisoners he saw there; and how he passed the night
42. Illustrative, like the preceding one, of the old proverb that adversity brings a man acquainted with strange bedfellows. Likewise containing Mr. Pickwick's extraordinary and startling announcement to Mr. Samuel Weller
43. Showing how Mr. Weller got into difficulties
44. Treats of divers little matters which occurred in the Fleet, and of Mr. Winkle's mysterious behaviour, and shows how the poor Chancery prisoner obtained his release at last
45. Descriptive of an affecting interview between Mr. Samuel Weller and a family party. Mr. Pickwick makes a tour of the diminutive world he inhabits, and resolves to mix with it, in the future, as little as possible
46. Records a touching act of delicate feeling, not unmixed with pleasantry, achieved and performed by Messrs. Dodson and Fogg
47. Is chiefly devoted to matters of business and the temporal advantage of Dodson and Fogg. Mr. Winkle appears under extraordinary circumstances. Mr. Pickwick's benevolence proves stronger than his obstinacy
48. Relates how Mr. Pickwick, with the assistance of Samuel Weller, essayed to soften the heart of Mr. Benjamin Allen and to mollify the wrath of Mr. Robert Sawyer
49. Containing the story of the bagman's uncle
50. How Mr. Pickwick sped upon his mission, and how he was reinforced in the outset by a most unexpected auxiliary
51. In which Mr. Pickwick encounters an old Acquaintance - to which fortunate Circumstances the Reader is mainly indebted for Matter of thrilling Interest herein set down, concerning two great Public Men of Might and Power
52. Involving a serious change in the Weller Family, and the untimely Downfall of the red-nosed Mr. Stiggins
53. Comprising the final exit of Mr. Jingle and Job Trotter; with a great morning of business in Gray's Inn Square. Concluding with a double knock at Mr. Perker's door.
54. Containing some particulars relative to the double knock, and other matters; among which certain interesting disclosures relative to Mr. Snodgrass and a young lady are by no means irrelevant to this history
55. Mr. Solomon Pell, assisted by a select committee of coachmen, arranges the affairs of the elder Mr. Weller
56. An important conference takes place between Mr. Pickwick and Samuel Weller, at which his parent assists. An old gentlemen in a snuff-coloured suit arrives unexpectedly
57. In which the Pickwick Club is finally dissolved, and everything concluded to the satisfaction of everybody

See also

• Pickwickian syndrome
• The Spaniards Inn

The Pickwickian syndrome, also known as obesity hypoventilation syndrome, is the combination of severe obesity and hypoventilation. ... The Spaniards Inn lies on Spaniards Road on the way from Hampstead to Highgate, on the edge of Hampstead Heath near Kenwood House. ...

External links

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• The Pickwick Papers - Google Books
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v • d • e Works by Charles Dickens
Novels:	The Pickwick Papers (1836–1837)  · Oliver Twist (1837–1839)  · The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby (1838–1839)  · The Old Curiosity Shop (1840–1841)  · Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty (1841)  · A Christmas Carol (1843)  · Martin Chuzzlewit (1843–1844)  · The Chimes (1844)  · The Cricket on the Hearth (1845)  · The Battle of Life (1846)  · Dombey and Son (1846–1848)  · The Haunted Man (1848)  · David Copperfield (1849–1850)  · Bleak House (1852–1853)  · Hard Times (1854)  · Little Dorrit (1855–1857)  · A Tale of Two Cities (1859)  · Great Expectations (1860–1861)  · Our Mutual Friend (1864–1865)  · The Mystery of Edwin Drood (unfinished) (1870)
Short stories:	"A Child's Dream of a Star" (1850)  · "Captain Murderer"  · "A Christmas Tree" (1850)  · "What Christmas is, as We Grow Older" (1851)  · "The Poor Relation's Story" (1852)  · "The Child's Story" (1852)  · "The Schoolboy's Story" (1853)  · "Nobody's Story" (1853)  · "The Seven Poor Travellers" (1854)  · "The Holly-tree Inn" (1855)  · "The Wreck of the Golden Mary" (1856)  · "The Perils of Certain English Prisoners" (1857)  · "Going into Society" (1858)  · "The Haunted House" (1859)  · "A Message from the Sea" (1860)  · "Tom Tiddler's Ground" (1861)  · "Somebody's Luggage" (1862)  · "Mrs Lirriper's Lodgings" (1863)  · "Mrs Lirriper's Legacy" (1864)  · "Doctor Marigold's Prescriptions" (1865)  · "Mugby Junction" (1866)  · "No Thoroughfare" (1867)  · "George Silverman's Explanation"  · "Holiday Romance"  · "Hunted Down"  · "The Lamplighter"  · "The Signal-Man" (1866)  · "Sunday Under Three Heads"  · "The Trial for Murder"  · "A House to Let" (1858)  · "The Long Voyage" (1853)
Other works	Sketches by Boz (1836)  · Master Humphrey's Clock (1840–1841)  · American Notes (1842)  · Pictures from Italy (1844–1845)  · The Life of Our Lord (1846, published in 1934)  · A Child's History of England (1851–1853)  · The Uncommercial Traveller (1860–1869)  · In Memoriam W. M. Thackeray the first!  · A Coal Miner's Evidence