The Pickwick Papers is Dickens’first novel and widely regarded as one of the major classics of comic writing in English. Originally serialJsed in monthly instalments, it quickly became a huge popular success with sales reaching 40,000 by the final number. In the century and a half since its first appearance, the characters of Mr Pickwick,Sam Weller and the whole Pickwickian crew have entered the consciousness of all who love English literature in general, and the works of Dickens in particular.

Wordsworth Classics are inexpensive editions designed to appeal to the general reader and students. We commissioned teachers and specialists to write wide ranging, jargon-free introductions and to provide notes that would assist the understanding of our readers rather than interpret the stories for them. In the same spirit, because the pleasures of reading are inseparable from the surprises, secrets and revelations that all narratives contain, we strongly advise you to enjoy this book before turning to the Introduction.

I The Pickwickians

II The fist day’s journey, and the first evening’s adventures;

with their consequences

III A new acquaintance. The stroller’s tale. A disagreeable

interruption and an unpleasant rencontre

IV Afield-day and bivouac. More new friends. An invitation to

the country

V A short one. Showing, among other matters, how Mr Pickwick

undertook to drive, and Mr Winkle to ride; and how

they both did it

VI An old-fashioned card party. The clergyman’s verses. The story

of the convict’s return

VII How Mr Winkle, instead of shooting at the pigeon and killing

the crow, shot at the crow and wounded the pigeon;

how the Dingley Dell Cricket Club played All-Muggleton,

and how All-Muggleton dined at the Dingley Dell expense:

with other interesting and instructive matters

VIII Strongly illustrative of the position, that the course of

true love is not a railway

IX A discovery and a chase

X Clearing up all doubts (if any existed) of the disinterestedness

of Mr Jingle’s character

XI Involving another journey, and an antiquarian discovery.

Recording Mr Pickwick’s determination to be present at an

election; and containing a manuscript of the old clergyman’s

XII DeScriptive of a very important proceeding on the part of

Mr Pickwick; no less an epoch in his life, than in this history

XIII 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

XIV Comprising a brief description of the company at the Peacock

assembled and a tale told by a bagman

XV 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

XVI Too full of adventure to he briefly described

XVII Showing that an attack of rheumatism, in some cases, acts as a

quickener to inventive genius

XVIII Briefly illustrative of two points-first, the power of hysterics,

and, secondly, the force of circumstances

XlX A pleasant day, with an unpleasant termination

XX 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

XXI In which the old man launches forth into his favourite theme,

and relates a story about a queer client

XXII Mr Pickwick journeys to Ipswich, and meets with a romantic

adventure with a middle-aged lady in yellow curl papers

XXIII In which Mr Samuel Weller begins to devote his energies

to the return match between himself and Mr Trotter

XXlV Wherein Mr Peter Magnus grows jealous, and the middle-agea

lady apprehensive, which brings the Pickwickians within

the grasp of the law

XXV 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

XXVI Which contains a brief account of the progress of the action of

Bardell against Pickwick

XXVII Samuel Weller makes a pilgrimage to Dorking, and beholds

his mother-in-law

XXVIII 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 degenerate times

XXIX The story of the goblins who stole a sexton

XXX Hew the Pickwickians made and cultivated the acquaintance

of a couple of nice young men belonging to one tithe

liberal professions; hew they disported themselves on the ice;

and how their first visit came to a conclusion

XXXI Which is all about the law, and sundry great authorities learned

therein

XXXII Describes, far more fully than the court newsman ever did,

a bacbelor’s party, given by Mr Bob Sawer at his lodgings

in the Borough

XXXIII Mr Weller the elder delivers some critical sentiments respecting

literary composition; and, assisted by his son Samuel, pays a

small instalment of retaliation to the account of the reverend

gentleman with the red nose

XXXIV Is wholly devoted to a full and faithful report of the memorable

trial of Bardell against Pickwick

XXXV In which Mr Pickwick thinks he had better go to Bath; and

goes accordingly

XXXVI 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

XXXVII Honourably accounts for Mr Weller’s absence by describing

a soiree to which he was invited and went; also relates hew

he was entrusted by Mr Pickwick with a private mission

of delicacy and importance

XXXVIII Hew Mr Winkle, when be stepped out of the frying-pan,

walked gently and comfortably into the fire

XXXIX Mr Samuel Weller, being entrusted with a mission of love,

proceeds to execute it; with what success will hereinafier appear

XL Introduces Mr Pickwick to a new and not uninteresting scene

in the great drama of life

XLI What befell Mr Pickwick when he got into the Fleet;

what prisoners he saw there; and how he passed the night

XLII 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

XLIII Shewing hew Mr Samuel Weller got into difficulties