Book review: Our Mutual Friend by Charles Dickens

Our Mutual Friend was written by Charles Dickens between 1864-65 and was originally published in monthly installments over a 19-month period. The primary themes of the book are money and social status, and how gaining or losing either can have a tremendous affect on the personality and actions of the individuals involved.

In the opening of the story we find that a miserable old man has died and that his vast fortune shall be passed down to his son, John Harmon, who he has not seen for several years. The will stipulates that John must return to London and marry a young woman named Bella Wilfer, who he has never met before and is of a much lower social standing than he is. When a body is discovered drowned in the Thames river – believed to be John Harmon – the inheritance is instead bestowed upon Mr and Mrs Boffin, faithful servants to the old man and the only people in his life whom he has any real connection with.




As the effects of the substantial inheritance unfold against the backdrop of 19th century London, we are introduced to a series of characters from all walks of life and from ever rung of the social ladder including lawyers, teachers, socialites, watermen and businessmen. Those near the foot of the ladder are desperate to ascend toward the top, while those perched high up will do everything in their power to retain their lofty status.

The vast number of characters introduced can make for a confusing read at times. The edition published by Vintage has a glossary of all the main characters at the start of the book which made for a good reference point. If you decide to read the book and your copy lacks these pages, I would recommend taking notes when recurring characters appear.

There are several sub-plots within the book and the most compelling stories tend to involve the characters of the lower class who represent the darker side of the city. Tales of murder, mystery and betrayal feature frequently, while an interesting love triangle develops between three characters, each of whom reside within a different social class.

The plot lines concerning the upper class characters tend to be more mundane and repetitive. Several dinner parties take place at the home of the Veneerings – a married couple of seem to do nothing more than host dinner parties – but it is important to maintain focus at these points of the story as new information will come to light every now and then.

Overall, I would regard Our Mutual Friend as a must-read for anyone interested in Charles Dickens or 19th century literature in general. The length of the book and use of old-fashioned vocabulary may seem daunting at first, but you will soon get the hang of it and will be rewarded with a highly engrossing critique of British society in the 1800’s, masquerading as a straight forward murder mystery.