Secondhand Classics Bargain Book Box DSH1112

Secondhand Charles Dickens Classics Bargain Book Box

Step back into the bustling, complex world of Victorian England with this monumental collection of Charles Dickens' greatest works. This box brings together twelve of his essential novels, offering a sweeping panorama of London's dark underbelly, its grand social commentary, and its unforgettable cast of eccentric, tragic, and comical characters. Prepare to be immersed in timeless tales of poverty, ambition, injustice, and resilience, all told with Dickens' signature blend of wit and poignant humanity. Each book is secondhand and may show signs of wear.

1. Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens
   This final completed novel begins with a mystery surrounding the inherited fortune of John Harmon, which is conditional upon his marrying a woman he has never met. When Harmon is presumed drowned in the Thames, the money falls to the grasping Boffins, drawing a host of opportunistic and avaricious characters into their orbit. Dickens uses this elaborate plot, centered on the strange nature of inherited "dust" and the murky river, to deliver a fierce critique of wealth, class, and the moral corruption underlying Victorian society.

2. Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
   This harrowing narrative follows the journey of the eponymous orphan who escapes the brutal workhouse only to fall into the clutches of the infamous criminal Fagin and his gang in the slums of London. Forced into a life of petty crime, Oliver must navigate the terrifying world of Bill Sikes and the kind shelter of Mr. Brownlow, who seeks to save him. Dickens uses Oliver's plight to expose the systemic poverty, cruelty, and hypocrisy prevalent among England's institutions, creating a timeless story of innocence struggling against overwhelming darkness.

3. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens
   Set against the terrifying backdrop of the French Revolution and the comparative tranquility of London, this historical novel explores themes of sacrifice, resurrection, and the violent consequences of social injustice. The novel centers on the brilliant, wasted Sidney Carton, who falls in love with the virtuous Lucie Manette, daughter of a man wrongfully imprisoned in the Bastille. Carton’s selfless final act of substitution is one of the most famous and moving moments in all of English literature, embodying the novel's profound emotional power.

4. The Mystery of Edwin Drood & Other Stories by Charles Dickens
   Dickens' final, unfinished novel revolves around the disappearance of the young Edwin Drood and the dark suspicions surrounding his uncle, the choirmaster John Jasper, who harbors a secret passion for Edwin's fiancée. Set in the gloomy cathedral town of Cloisterham, the story is saturated with mystery, opium addiction, and dark psychological tension, forcing readers to perpetually question whether Edwin was murdered and who the perpetrator was. This volume also includes supplementary tales, giving insight into Dickens' later period of fiction.

5. The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens
   The novel chronicles the heartbreaking tale of Little Nell and her devoted, but gambling-addicted, grandfather, who are forced to flee London after their antique shop is seized by the malicious, grotesque dwarf, Daniel Quilp. Their desperate journey through the English countryside is one of constant peril, poverty, and pursuit by Quilp and his agents. Dickens created a narrative that was immensely popular but controversial for its sentimental portrayal of Nell’s suffering and ultimate, tragic fate.

6. David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
   Often regarded as Dickens’ most autobiographical novel, this immersive coming-of-age story follows David from a difficult childhood through young manhood as he finds his place in the world as a writer. The narrative is populated by some of Dickens’ most memorable and eccentric characters, including the perpetually hopeful Mr. Micawber, the tyrannical Murdstone, and the fiercely loyal Betsey Trotwood. The novel is a sweeping journey of self-discovery, focusing on perseverance, ambition, and the development of moral character.

7. Bleak House by Charles Dickens
   This complex masterpiece is a scathing indictment of the English judicial system, centered on the endlessly dragging Chancery suit, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, which slowly consumes the lives and fortunes of everyone involved. The narrative blends the private lives of characters like the kind Esther Summerson with vast social commentary, introducing a cast from the highest echelons of society to the deepest London slums. Dickens expertly uses multiple narrators and the pervasive theme of fog to emphasize the moral decay and chronic inefficiency of institutions.

8. Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens
   Set in the late 18th century, this novel is one of Dickens' two historical works, culminating in the violent anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of 1780 in London. The story follows the simple-minded Barnaby Rudge and his pet raven, Grip, as their lives become entangled in the historical tumult and the political and religious hysteria that grips the city. Dickens vividly captures the chaotic terror of the mob violence, while simultaneously exploring themes of father-son relationships and the dark power of mass delusion.

9. Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens
   The stern, proud, and emotionally stunted Paul Dombey owns a vast London shipping firm and desperately desires a male heir to carry on the family name, neglecting his daughter Florence completely. When his weak young son dies, Dombey’s world collapses, driven by his cold ambition and the destructive consequences of patriarchal arrogance on his family. This novel powerfully explores the destructive nature of commercial pride, the corrupting influence of wealth, and the eventual, hard-won reconciliation between father and daughter.

10. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
    The story follows the life of the orphan Philip "Pip" Pirrip, from his humble upbringing in the Kent marshes to his sudden elevation into the world of wealth and London society due to a mysterious benefactor. As Pip seeks to fulfill his aspirations to become a gentleman, he navigates the eccentric influence of Miss Havisham and the painful truth behind his "great expectations," discovering the difference between superficial class and true moral integrity. It is a profound exploration of ambition, shame, and self-knowledge.

11. The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens
    Dickens' first novel introduces the benevolent and eccentric Samuel Pickwick, Esq., and the members of the Pickwick Club, as they embark on a series of comedic, picaresque journeys across the English countryside. Written initially as a loose collection of sketches, the novel is a joyous, rambling satire of contemporary life, law, and politics, filled with delightful characters like the witty Sam Weller. This work established Dickens' unparalleled reputation for humor and observation, setting the stage for his subsequent literary career.

12. Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
    Amy Dorrit, known as the "Little Dorrit," is born and raised within the walls of the Marshalsea debtors’ prison, where her father is the longest-serving inmate. She works tirelessly to support her family while finding moral contrast in the struggles of Arthur Clennam, who seeks to uncover the secrets behind the Dorrits’ long confinement. The novel is a powerful critique of bureaucracy, especially the notorious Circumlocution Office, and explores how various forms of social and financial "imprisonment" affect all levels of Victorian society.