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Dombey and Son, V2/2
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1848
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About the author
Charles Dickens
12.8k books31.5k 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 9, 2016
I tried to put off finishing the Dombey opus, because I grew to love some of the characters and as usual with Dickens, I felt an empty future without one of his books in my hands. Having left Volume I with everything seeming to be on the upturn, the second section starts perfectly with Mr. Dombey's second marriage. I say perfectly because the entire story is almost 900 pages long, which means trying to hold one massive book in one's hands just won't work, so I like the separation between sections. Anyway, the wedding is the starting point for part deux, which means the dawn is going to be blank and passionless.
The first volume and my review focused on the characters because that's what Dickens did best. He created names and personalities that fit the pages. Did I like all the players in this tale? No, and that is why Dombey will never be my top Dickens read. Are there good, decent folks wandering throughout the story? Yes there are, but they get overwhelmed by the ones I just couldn't stand, particularly in Volume II.
The Pride of Dombey could have easily been the title. He just drove me crazy! Wake up, Mr. Self Absorbed. He did remind me of many people I've worked with, obsessed with himself and his 'standing'. Yet, he really didn't have any skills and his downfall was telegraphed so early that it came as no surprise at all. Selfish.
Carker, the detestable Carker, with his feline teeth, playing with his prey just as my kitty does. Horrible dude. I didn't even want to touch the pages where he was highlighted. Yuck. Selfish.
Edith, the new bride. If I was supposed to pull for her and feel her snottiness, I failed. Another character I couldn't wait to get past and just never understood. Selfish.
Joseph Bagstock, so very conceited and so disloyal. Selfish, selfish, selfish. Leave my pages, sir!
And yet, and yet, there is the counterbalance of gentle Uncle Sol Gills, good-hearted nephew Walter, the fierce loyalty of Susan Nipper, and the wonky sweetness of Mr. Toots.
But I grew to love Captain Cuttle who becomes the leader of the side of good. He wants only the best for the family of which he may not be a true relation in blood but is certainly in spirit.
It was plain that he considered the Captain one of the most amiable of men, and a man whom it was an honour to a dog to know.
The acceptance of the Captain by Diogenes the Dog (my hero in the story) says it all. Trust the dog.
Railroads and trains play a part here, reflecting the upcoming lower-middle-class as exemplified by the career progression of Mr. Toodle, as he moves up the line with his now valued skills, surpassing the very men who looked down upon him just a few pages earlier. I liked that, also. The railroads of the commoner overtaking the sailing ships of the upper class.
Of course, in usual Dickens style, everything comes together toward the end, albeit a bit too fast, as though C.D. was getting tired of writing and just wanted to call it a day. Still, Dickens is Dickens. I certainly enjoyed it all.
Book Season = Summer (not a rainy, moody Dickens)
The first volume and my review focused on the characters because that's what Dickens did best. He created names and personalities that fit the pages. Did I like all the players in this tale? No, and that is why Dombey will never be my top Dickens read. Are there good, decent folks wandering throughout the story? Yes there are, but they get overwhelmed by the ones I just couldn't stand, particularly in Volume II.
The Pride of Dombey could have easily been the title. He just drove me crazy! Wake up, Mr. Self Absorbed. He did remind me of many people I've worked with, obsessed with himself and his 'standing'. Yet, he really didn't have any skills and his downfall was telegraphed so early that it came as no surprise at all. Selfish.
Carker, the detestable Carker, with his feline teeth, playing with his prey just as my kitty does. Horrible dude. I didn't even want to touch the pages where he was highlighted. Yuck. Selfish.
Edith, the new bride. If I was supposed to pull for her and feel her snottiness, I failed. Another character I couldn't wait to get past and just never understood. Selfish.
Joseph Bagstock, so very conceited and so disloyal. Selfish, selfish, selfish. Leave my pages, sir!
And yet, and yet, there is the counterbalance of gentle Uncle Sol Gills, good-hearted nephew Walter, the fierce loyalty of Susan Nipper, and the wonky sweetness of Mr. Toots.
But I grew to love Captain Cuttle who becomes the leader of the side of good. He wants only the best for the family of which he may not be a true relation in blood but is certainly in spirit.
It was plain that he considered the Captain one of the most amiable of men, and a man whom it was an honour to a dog to know.
The acceptance of the Captain by Diogenes the Dog (my hero in the story) says it all. Trust the dog.
Railroads and trains play a part here, reflecting the upcoming lower-middle-class as exemplified by the career progression of Mr. Toodle, as he moves up the line with his now valued skills, surpassing the very men who looked down upon him just a few pages earlier. I liked that, also. The railroads of the commoner overtaking the sailing ships of the upper class.
Of course, in usual Dickens style, everything comes together toward the end, albeit a bit too fast, as though C.D. was getting tired of writing and just wanted to call it a day. Still, Dickens is Dickens. I certainly enjoyed it all.
Book Season = Summer (not a rainy, moody Dickens)
February 12, 2021
Volume II: chapters 31-62
To read my full review of this novel, please LINK HERE.
To read my full review of this novel, please LINK HERE.
October 30, 2010
I'm glad to be reading Dickens after so long. I read everything I could of his as a child. Now I can appreciate the details of character and place, and how every detail is neatly tied in the end. Half way through the book you fell as though you are there in Victorian England, with the different classes, different lives. And the end, you think you know it, but it is always a little different than expected.
April 11, 2022
This review covers both volumes of Dombey and Son. Another of Dickens' very long novels, with some great elements and poor elements to it. The first part of the book (leading up to the main event around which the narrative unfolds) is a tour de force in which Dickens establishes the main characters and an engaging story. After the main event, the reader is left with very high expectations, guessing and trying to work out what is likely to follow. And there are several variants in terms of probability. But Dickens tends to deceive us all by going off in unexpected and improbable directions, while at the same time, not exploring what the reader would expect to be explored. So, the second part of the book is a pluralistic miasma of stories that doesn't hold together that well. And the closer we get to the end, the bigger the jumps that take place and the gaps in the story, and with some characters given full development while others (more important to the story) are left to wither. But this is not to take away from a very enjoyable read and some brilliant characters. Dombey in particular is, in the first part, brilliantly portrayed, as is Florence, even if we have seen these type of characters before in Dickens. The pity is that if Dombey is the anti-hero in the first part, the change in him and his circumstances in the second part is not really explored in any depth. The novel is almost left without a central character. And it meanders to its close, leaving us frustratingly unwise about various things in the book. The short section of text on the arrival of the railways is brilliant.
July 22, 2022
Nice one, his daughter was much better than him but she never get enough attention from her father.
It’s doesn’t matter if you have a boy or girl, both of them should get the same love and respect from you.
It’s doesn’t matter if you have a boy or girl, both of them should get the same love and respect from you.
April 2, 2023
Tai buvo seniai, labai seniai... Tikriausiai skaičiau 1958 m. išleistą lietuvišką vertimą, vieną iš pirmųjų rimtų knygų, pasibaigus vaikiškų/paaugliškų skaitymui, ir kaip nekeista liko atmintyje kaip geras romanas. Turbūt todėl, kad parašė didysis Dikensas...
August 9, 2023
Narration was everything. I just want to spend time with these people. Loved going back each day/week (900 pages or 20 hours of book) to see what they were up to. I can’t honestly recommend this to a person who doesn’t love Dickens or slow moving characterizations larded with time period mores.
January 19, 2019
Two words - Edith Granger.
March 17, 2022
There is a great big baggy middle of this book that drags on for hundreds of pages. And then everyone gets married at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2015
Not my favorite Dickens novel but not bad. I'm not sure if the Google Books version I downloaded included both parts, so I might have just read the second half and missed many details.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews