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Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit

by Charles DICKENS (1812 - 1870)

Chapter 03b - ... Part 2

Old Martin Chuzzlewit has heaps of money that has never brought him anything but misery. Estranged from his grandson and namesake, when word gets out that he is ill, he finds himself surrounded by a throng of relatives that he despises, all hoping to get a piece of the pie. He allows himself to be taken under the wing of his obsequious and hypocritical cousin, Seth Pecksniff, who is more than happy to shelter him and kowtow to him and to keep all other relatives away. Will this vulture be the one to inherit the old man’s fortune, or is there more going on than meets the eye?Treachery, mayhem, and possibly murder, along with some genuine love and compassion are skillfully intertwined in this book, along with Dickens’ classic wit and brilliantly created characters. His villains are odious, his good guys are delightful, and those that fall in between truly deserve to be called “Characters.” (summary by Debra Lynn)

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Listen next episodes of Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit:
Chapter 04a - From Which It Will Appear That If Union Be Strength, And Family Affection Be Pleasant To Contemplate, The Chuzzlewits Were The Strongest And Most Agreeable Family In The World, Part 1 , Chapter 04b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 05a - Containing A Full Account Of The Installation Of Mr Pecksniff's New Pupil Into The Bosom Of Mr Pecksniff's Family. With All The Festivities Held On That Occasion, And The Great Enjoyment Of Mr Pinch, Part 1 , Chapter 05b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 06 - Comprises, Among Other Important Matters, Pecksniffian And Architectural, And Exact Relation Of The Progress Made By Mr Pinch In The Confidence And Friendship Of The New Pupil , Chapter 07 - In Which Mr Chevy Slyme Asserts The Independence Of His Spirit, And The Blue Dragon Loses A Limb , Chapter 08 - Accompanies Mr Pecksniff And His Charming Daughters To The City Of London; And Relates What Fell Out Upon Their Way Thither , Chapter 09a - Town And Todger's, Part 1 , Chapter 09b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 10 - Containing Strange Matter, On Which Many Events In This History May, For Their Good Or Evil Influence, Chiefly Depend , Chapter 11a - Wherein A Certain Gentleman Becomes Particular In His Attentions To A Certain Lady; And More Coming Events Than One, Cast Their Shadows Before, Part 1 , Chapter 11b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 12a - Will Be Seen In The Long Run, If Not In The Short One, To Concern Mr Pinch And Others, Nearly. Mr Pecksniff Asserts The Dignity Of Outraged Virtue. Young Martin Chuzzlewit Forms A Desperate Resolution, Part 1 , Chapter 12b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 13a - Showing What Became Of Martin And His Desparate Resolve, After He Left Mr Pecksniff's House; What Persons He Encountered; What Anxieties He Suffered; And What News He Heard, Part 1 , Chapter 13b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 14 - In Which Martin Bids Adieu To The Lady Of His Love; And Honours An Obscure Individual Whose Fortune He Intends To Make By Commending Her To His Protection , Chapter 15 - The Burden Whereof, Is Hail Columbia! , Chapter 16a - Martin Disembarks From That Noble And Fast-Sailing Line-Of-Packet Ship, 'The Screw', At The Port Of New York, In The United States Of America. He Makes Some Acquaintances, And Dines At A Boarding-House. The Particulars Of Those Transactions, Part 1 , Chapter 16b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 17a - Martin Enlarges His Circle Of Aquaintance; Increases His Stock Of Wisdom; And Has An Excellent Opportunity Of Comparing His Own Experiences With Those Of Lummy Ned Of The Light Salisbury, As Related By His Friend Mr William Simmons, Part 1 , Chapter 17b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 18 - Does Business With The House Of Anthony Chuzzlewit And Son, From Which One Of The Partners Retires Unexpectedly , Chapter 19 - The Reader Is Brought Into Communication With Some Professional Persons, And Sheds A Tear Over The Filial Piety Of Good Mr Jonas , Chapter 20 - Is A Chapter Of Love , Chapter 21a - More American Experiences, Martin Takes A Partner, And Makes A Purchase. Some Account Of Eden, As It Appeared On Paper. Also Of The British Lion. Also Of The Kind Of Sympathy Professed And Entertained By The Watertoast Association Of United Sympathisers, Part 1 , Chapter 21b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 22 - From Which It Will Be Seen That Martin Became A Lion Of His Own Account. Together With The Reason Why , Chapter 23 - Martin And His Partner Take Possession Of Their Estate. The Joyful Occasion Involves Some Further Account Of Eden , Chapter 24 - Reports Progress In Certain Homely Matters Of Love, Hatred, Jealousy, And Revenge , Chapter 25 - Is In Part Professional, And Furnishes The Reader With Some Valuable Hints In Relation To The Management Of A Sick Chamber , Chapter 26 - An Unexpected Meeting, And A Promising Prospect , Chapter 27a - Showing That Old Friends May Not Only Appear With New Faces, But In False Colours. That People Are Prone To Bite, And That Biters May Sometimes Be Bitten, Part 1 , Chapter 27b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 28 - Mr Montague At Home. And Mr Jonas Chuzzlewit At Home , Chapter 29 - In Which Some People Are Precocious, Others Professional, And Others Mysterious; All In Their Several Ways , Chapter 30 - Proves That Changes May Be Rung In The Best-Regulated Families, And That Mr Peckniff Was A Special Hand At A Triple-Bob-Major , Chapter 31a - Mr Pinch Is Discharged Of A Duty Which He Never Owed To Anybody, And Mr Pecksniff Discharges A Duty Which He Owes To Society, Part 1 , Chapter 31b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 32 - Treats Of Todger's Again; And Of Another Blighted Plant Besides The Plants Upon The Leads , Chapter 33a - Further Proceedings In Eden, And A Proceeding Out Of It. Martin Makes A Discovery Of Some Importance, Part 1 , Chapter 33b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 34 - In Which The Travellers Move Homeward, And Encounter Some Distinguished Characters Upon The Way , Chapter 35 - Arriving In England, Martin Witnesses A Ceremony, From Which He Derives The Cheering Information That He Has Not Been Forgotten In His Absence , Chapter 36a - Tom Pinch Departs To Seek His Fortune. What He Finds At Starting, Part 1 , Chapter 36b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 37 - Tom Pinch, Going Astray, Finds That He Is Not The Only Person In That Predicament. He Retaliates Upon A Fallen Foe , Chapter 38 - Secret Service , Chapter 39a - Containing Some Further Particulars Of The Domestic Economy Of The Pinches; With Strange News From The City, Narrowly Concerning Tom, Part 1 , Chapter 39b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 40 - The Pinches Make A New Acquaintance, And Have Fresh Occasion For Surprise And Wonder , Chapter 41 - Mr Jonas And His Friend, Arriving At A Pleasant Understanding, Set Forth Upon An Enterprise , Chapter 42 - Continuation Of The Enterprise Of Mr Jonas And His Friend , Chapter 43a - Has An Influence On The Fortunes Of Several People. Mr Pecksniff Is Exhibited In The Plenitude Of Power; And Wields The Same With Fortitude And Magnanimity, Part 1 , Chapter 43b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 44 - Further Continuation Of The Enterprise Of Mr Jonas And His Friend , Chapter 45 - In Which Tom Pinch And His Sister Take A Little Pleasure; But Quite In A Domestic Way, And With No Ceremony About It , Chapter 46a - In Which Miss Pecksniff Makes Love, Mr Jonas Makes Wrath, Mrs Gamp Makes Tea, And Mr Chuffey Makes Business, Part 1 , Chapter 46b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 47 - Conclusion Of The Enterprise Of Mr Jonas And His Friend , Chapter 48a - Bears Tidings Of Martin And Of Mark, As Well As Of A Third Person Not Quite Unknown To The Reader. Exhibits Filial Piety In An Ugly Aspect; And Casts A Doubtful Ray Of Light Upon A Very Dark Place, Part 1 , Chapter 48b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 49 - In Which Mrs Harris Assisted By A Teapot, Is The Cause Of A Division Between Friends , Chapter 50 - Surprises Tom Pinch Very Much, And Shows How Certain Confidences Passed Between Him And His Sister , Chapter 51a - Sheds New And Brighter Light Upon The Very Dark Place; And Contains The Sequel Of The Enterprise Of Mr Jonas And His Friend, Part 1 , Chapter 51b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 52a - In Which The Tables Are Turned, Completely Upside Down, Part 1 , Chapter 52b - ... Part 2 , Chapter 53 - What John Westlock Said To Tom Pinch's Sister; What Tom Pinch's Sister Said To John Westlock; What Tom Pinch Said To Both Of Them; And How They All Passed The Remainder Of The Day , Chapter 54 - Gives The Author Great Concern. For It Is The Last In The Book