The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens (Hardcover)

“The Pickwick Papers” is the first novel written by Charles Dickens and was originally published in 1836. The novel is a humorous account of the misadventures of the members of the Pickwick Club, a group of gentlemen who set out to explore the English countryside and report back on their experiences.

The novel’s protagonist is Mr. Samuel Pickwick, a wealthy and benevolent retired businessman who decides to form a club with his friends to travel around the country and study human nature. Along with his companions, the lovable but clumsy Mr. Tracy Tupman, the sportsman Mr. Augustus Snodgrass, and the philosophical Mr. Nathaniel Winkle, Pickwick embarks on a series of adventures that involve mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and legal battles.

The novel is notable for its vividly drawn characters, its social commentary on 19th-century England, and its comedic style. The character of Sam Weller, Pickwick’s irreverent and witty servant, became an instant literary sensation and helped to popularize a new type of working-class character in English literature.

“The Pickwick Papers” was a huge success upon its initial publication and helped to establish Dickens as a major literary figure. It remains one of his most beloved works and is considered a classic of English literature.