Synopsis:

Our Mutual Friend, Dickens’ final completed novel, offers one of his most thorough and insightful explorations of Victorian society. The novel presents a vivid portrayal of a culture suffocated by materialistic values, a theme that unfolds not only through its main narratives but also through its seemingly incidental characters and scenes.

At the core of the story is John Harmon, who returns to England as his father’s heir but is presumed drowned under mysterious circumstances—a situation that conveniently allows him to remain anonymous while he assesses Bella Wilfer, the woman he must marry to secure his inheritance.

The novel is brimming with vibrant characters and events, from the faded aristocrats and social climbers gathered at the Veneerings’ dinner table, to Betty Higden and her fearful flight from the workhouse, and the scheming machinations of Silas Wegg. Our Mutual Friend is a richly woven tapestry that captures the complexities and contradictions of Victorian life.