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Chapter companions for The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens.

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  1. Chapter 1

    The Pickwick Papers

    The novel introduces the Pickwick Club, founded by Samuel Pickwick and his friends Tracy Tupman, Augustus Snodgrass, and Nathaniel Winkle. They embark on a journey of observation and adventure, encountering a series of comedic misadventures, including the mysterious Mr. Jingle, romantic entanglements, and legal troubles that lead to Mr. Pickwick's imprisonment. The story explores themes of friendship, justice, and social class, culminating in Pickwick's retirement to Dulwich.

  2. Chapter 2

    The Pickwickians

    The first chapter introduces the Pickwick Club, founded by Samuel Pickwick, and records the founding of the Corresponding Society of the Pickwick Club, with Pickwick, Tupman, Snodgrass, and Winkle as members. The chapter includes Pickwick's speech, a heated exchange with Mr. Blotton (resolved via 'Pickwickian' interpretation), and sets the stage for the club's travels and adventures.

  3. Chapter 3

    The First Day's Journey, and the First Evening's Adventures; with Their Consequences

    Mr. Pickwick begins his journey from Goswell Street, hails a cab, and notes the driver's absurd claims about his horse. At the Golden Cross, he meets his fellow Pickwickians—Tupman, Snodgrass, and Winkle. After a dispute with the cabman, they are rescued by a loquacious stranger (Mr. Jingle), who joins them for dinner and later accompanies them to Rochester, entertaining them with rambling tales and anecdotes.

  4. Chapter 4

    A New Acquaintance—The Stroller's Tale—A Disagreeable Interruption, and an Unpleasant Encounter

    Mr. Pickwick and his companions meet a mysterious, careworn man known as 'Dismal Jemmy,' a strolling actor who shares a grim tale of suffering. The evening is disrupted by the arrival of Doctor Slammer and his friends, who mistake Mr. Pickwick's party for the source of an insult at a ball. A confrontation ensues, revealing the stranger's identity as an actor, leading to a tense standoff that is defused by the group's intervention.

  5. Chapter 5

    A Field Day and Bivouac—More New Friends—An Invitation to the Country

    The Pickwickians attend a grand military review near Rochester, enduring the jostling crowd and a chaotic charge that leaves them disheveled. After the maneuvers, Mr. Pickwick is invited by a stout old gentleman to visit Manor Farm at Dingley Dell, and the chapter ends with the party departing as the fat boy falls asleep.

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  1. Chapter 6A Short One — Showing How Mr. Pickwick Undertook to Drive, and Mr. Winkle to Ride, and How They Both Did It
  2. Chapter 7An Old-Fashioned Card-Party—The Clergyman's Verses—The Story of the Convict's Return
  3. Chapter 8How Mr. Winkle, instead of shooting at the pigeon and killing the crow, shot at the crow and wounded the pigeon; how the Dingley Dell cricket club played All-Muggleton, and how All-Muggleton dined at the Dingley Dell expense; with other interesting and instructive matters.
  4. Chapter 9Chapter VIII: Strongly illustrative of the position, that the course of true love is not a railway
  5. Chapter 10Chapter IX
  6. Chapter 11The Rescue of Rachael Wardle
  7. Chapter 12Involving another journey, and an antiquarian discovery; recording Mr. Pickwick's determination to be present at an election; and containing a manuscript of the old clergyman's.
  8. Chapter 13Descriptive of a very important proceeding on the part of Mr. Pickwick; no less an epoch in his life, than in this history
  9. Chapter 14Some Account of Eatanswill; of the State of Parties Therein; and of the Election of a Member to Serve in Parliament for that Ancient, Loyal, and Patriotic Borough
  10. Chapter 15Comprising a brief description of the company at the Peacock assembled; and a tale told by a bagman
  11. Chapter 16Chapter XV
  12. Chapter 17Chapter XVI
  13. Chapter 18XVII
  14. Chapter 19Chapter XVIII
  15. Chapter 20A Pleasant Day with an Unpleasant Termination
  16. Chapter 21Chapter XX
  17. Chapter 22Chapter XXI
  18. Chapter 23XXII
  19. Chapter 24In which Mr. Samuel Weller begins to devote his energies to the return match between himself and Mr. Trotter.
  20. Chapter 25Wherein Mr. Peter Magnus grows jealous, and the middle-aged lady apprehensive, which brings the Pickwickians within the grasp of the law
  21. Chapter 26Chapter XXV
  22. Chapter 27Chapter XXVI
  23. Chapter 28Samuel Weller makes a pilgrimage to Dorking, and beholds his mother-in-law
  24. Chapter 29Chapter XXVIII
  25. Chapter 30The Story of the Goblins Who Stole a Sexton
  26. Chapter 31How the Pickwickians made and cultivated the acquaintance of a couple of nice young men belonging to one of the liberal professions; how they disported themselves on the ice; and how their visit came to a conclusion.
  27. Chapter 32Chapter XXXI
  28. Chapter 33A Bachelor's Party at Mr. Bob Sawyer's
  29. Chapter 34Mr. Weller the Elder Delivers Some Critical Sentiments Respecting Literary Composition; and, Assisted by His Son Samuel, Pays a Small Instalment of Retaliation to the Account of the Reverend Gentleman with the Red Nose
  30. Chapter 35The Trial of Bardell vs. Pickwick
  31. Chapter 36In which Mr. Pickwick thinks he had better go to Bath; and goes accordingly.
  32. Chapter 37Chapter XXXVI
  33. Chapter 38Honourably accounts for Mr. Weller's absence, by describing a soiree to which he was invited and went; also relates how he was entrusted by Mr. Pickwick with a private mission of delicacy and importance.
  34. Chapter 39How Mr. Winkle, when he stepped out of the frying-pan, walked gently and comfortably into the fire
  35. Chapter 40Mr. Samuel Weller, being entrusted with a mission of love, proceeds to execute it; with what success will hereinafter appear.
  36. Chapter 41Chapter XL: Mr. Pickwick is Arrested and Taken to the Fleet Prison
  37. Chapter 42What befell Mr. Pickwick when he got into the Fleet; what prisoners he saw there, and how he passed the night.
  38. Chapter 43XLII
  39. Chapter 44Showing how Mr. Samuel Weller got into difficulties
  40. Chapter 45XLIV
  41. Chapter 46Chapter XLV
  42. Chapter 47XLVI
  43. Chapter 48XLVII
  44. Chapter 49Relates how Mr. Pickwick, with the assistance of Samuel Weller, essayed to soften the heart of Mr. Benjamin Allen, and to mollify the wrath of Mr. Robert Sawyer
  45. Chapter 50Containing the story of the bagman's uncle
  46. Chapter 51Chapter L
  47. Chapter 52In which Mr. Pickwick encounters an old acquaintance—to which fortunate circumstance the reader is mainly indebted for matter of thrilling interest herein set down, concerning two great public men of might and power.
  48. Chapter 53LII
  49. Chapter 54LIII
  50. Chapter 55LIV
  51. Chapter 56Chapter LV
  52. Chapter 57LVI
  53. Chapter 58LVII
  54. Chapter 59Endnotes