# Our Mutual Friend

Our Mutual Friend (1864–5) is the last completed novel written by Charles Dickens. It centers on, in the words of critic J. Hillis Miller, "money, money, money, and what money can make of life" (which is, incidently, a quote from Our Mutual Friend, spoken by Bella at the end of book III, chapter iv.). In the opening chapter, a young man is on his way to receive his inheritance, which, according to his father's will, he can only claim if he marries Bella Wilfer, a beautiful, mercenary girl whom he has never met. However, before he can arrive, a body is found in the Thames and identified as him. The money passes on, instead, to the Boffins, and the effects spread throughout various corners of London society. The book is largely believed to be the most challenging and complicated that Dickens produced. Reviews at the time of publication were not generally favorable, but critical opinion shifted in the century that followed. Although somewhat a mystery, an important point concerning the identity of certain characters is revealed halfway through, without hinting as to the ending.Warning: template has been deprecated.
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### Table of Contents

Book the First: The Cup and the Lip
* Chapter 1: On The Look Out
* Chapter 2: The Man from Somewhere
* Chapter 3: Another Man
* Chapter 4: The R. Wilfer Family
* Chapter 5: Boffin's Bower
* Chapter 6: Cut Adrift
* Chapter 7: Mr Wegg Looks After Himself
* Chapter 8: Mr Boffin in Consultation
* Chapter 9: Mr and Mrs Boffin in Consultation
* Chapter 10: A Marriage Contract
* Chapter 11: Podsnappery
* Chapter 12: The Sweat of an Honest Man's Brow
* Chapter 13: Tracking the Bird of Prey
* Chapter 14: The Bird of Prey Brought Down
* Chapter 15: Two New Servants
* Chapter 16: Minders and Re-minders
* Chapter 17: A Dismal Swamp
Book the Second: Birds of a Feather
* Chapter 1: Of an Educational Character
* Chapter 2: Still Educational
* Chapter 3: A Piece of Work
* Chapter 4: Cupid Prompted
* Chapter 5: Mercury Prompting
* Chapter 6: A Riddle Without an Answer
* Chapter 7: In Which a Friendly Move Is Originated
* Chapter 8: In Which an Innocent Elopement Occurs
* Chapter 9: In Which the Orphan Makes His Will
* Chapter 10: A Successor
* Chapter 11: Some Affairs of the Heart
* Chapter 12: More Birds of Prey
* Chapter 13: A Solo and a Duett
* Chapter 14: Strong of Purpose
* Chapter 15: The Whole Case So Far
* Chapter 16: An Anniversary Occasion
Book the Third: A Long Lane
* Chapter 1: Lodgers in Queer Street
* Chapter 2: A Respected Friend in a New Aspect
* Chapter 3: The Same Respected Friend in More Aspects Than One
* Chapter 4: A Happy Return of the Day
* Chapter 5: The Golden Dustman Falls Into Bad Company
* Chapter 6: The Golden Dustman Falls Into Worse Company
* Chapter 7: The Friendly Move Takes up a Strong Position
* Chapter 8: The End of a Long Journey
* Chapter 9: Somebody Becomes the Subject of a Prediction
* Chapter 10: Scouts Out
* Chapter 11: In the Dark
* Chapter 12: Meaning Mischief
* Chapter 13: Give a Dog a Bad Name, and Hang Him
* Chapter 14: Mr Wegg Prepares a Grindstone for Mr Boffin's
* Chapter 15: The Golden Dustman at His Worst
* Chapter 16: The Feast of the Three Hobgoblins
* Chapter 17: A Social Chorus
Book the Fourth: A Turning
* Chapter 1: Setting Traps
* Chapter 2: The Golden Dustman Rises a Little
* Chapter 3: The Golden Dustman Sinks Again
* Chapter 4: A Runaway Match
* Chapter 5: Concerning the Mendicant's Bride
* Chapter 6: A Cry for Help
* Chapter 7: Better to Be Abel Than Cain
* Chapter 8: A Few Grains of Pepper
* Chapter 9: Two Places Vacated
* Chapter 10: The Dolls' Dressmaker Discovers a Word
* Chapter 11: Effect Is Given to the Dolls' Dressmaker's Discovery
* Chapter 12: The Passing Shadow
* Chapter 13: Showing How the Golden Dustman Helped to Scatter Dust
* Chapter 14: Checkmate to the Friendly Move
* Chapter 15: What Was Caught in the Traps That Were Set
* Chapter 16: Persons and Things in General
* Chapter 17: The Voice of Society
* Chapter 18: Postscript - in Lieu of Preface
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
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