Dombey and Son (Oxford World's Classics)
by Charles Dickens
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 628)
Read in January, 2004
This is one of Dickens' masterworks that I have reread several times. The deep pathos of the progress of the Dombey family is counterbalanced by the comic hijinks of such unforgettable characters as the choleric Major Bagstock, the idiotic prophet Captain Cuttle, as well as Susan Nipper, Mr. Toots, Mrs. Pipchin and Sir Barnet Skittles.
My generic comment about Charles Dickens:
First of all, although I am a partisan of Dickens' writing and have read and relished most his works, I concede to ...more
My generic comment about Charles Dickens:
First of all, although I am a partisan of Dickens' writing and have read and relished most his works, I concede to ...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
readers of Dickens
I thought different things about this book over the course of my reading it. Natural enough, given the length. But, as Herodotus teaches us, don't judge a life happy or tragic -- or a book good or bad -- until you've seen it to the end.
Dombey & Son is not as successful a novel as some of Dickens' finest: David Copperfield, Our Mutual Friend (currently, my absolute favorite), Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, etc. Judging it purely on structure and the usual things we read novels for...more
Dombey & Son is not as successful a novel as some of Dickens' finest: David Copperfield, Our Mutual Friend (currently, my absolute favorite), Nicholas Nickleby, Bleak House, etc. Judging it purely on structure and the usual things we read novels for...more
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I always love Dickens. This is my sixth by him. I am always left a little breathless by the wit with which he sketches his characters. This book certainly had its unforgettable characters, my favorites were Cap'n Cuttle, Walter Gay, Mr. Toots and Susan, and for villain, the sheer toothiness of Mr. Carker is downright awful.
I found the book a bit slow in its first half though the gradual build of Florence and little Paul's relationship, especially down at the sea was pivotal to the whole stor...more
I found the book a bit slow in its first half though the gradual build of Florence and little Paul's relationship, especially down at the sea was pivotal to the whole stor...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
anyone who loves Dickens
It's book 3 in my quest for mastery of the novels of Dickens. And so far, it is my favorite.
This novel contains everything that a Dickens novel should contain: lots of exaggerated characters with silly names, a complex plot, and a mixture of comedy and tragedy.
The plot (in a nutshell): Mr. Dombey has always wanted a son, for business purposes, of course. How else can the firm continue to keep its name? So, Paul Dombey is born, and the elder Dombey is ecstatic. Unfortunately, his ...more
This novel contains everything that a Dickens novel should contain: lots of exaggerated characters with silly names, a complex plot, and a mixture of comedy and tragedy.
The plot (in a nutshell): Mr. Dombey has always wanted a son, for business purposes, of course. How else can the firm continue to keep its name? So, Paul Dombey is born, and the elder Dombey is ecstatic. Unfortunately, his ...more
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Read in April, 2006
In Dombey and Son Dickens demonstrates the biting satire and the more expansive social criticism of his later work. Dombey is a proud business man and wants an heir. He is cold an distant to his children, especially young Paul his "son" who is frail and after some time at a boarding school dies. His second marriage becomes its own nightmare. In Dombey Dickens begins using a thematic symbol or motif and continues this practice for his longer works - here the railroads become a sym...more
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Read in July, 2008
I heard this (bits of it) on the radio and wanted to read it. It's about parents and children and money versus love. Love has many aspects.
Forgiveness is clearly promoted here. Florence continues to love her appalling father however badly he behaves (and he behaves very badly). Other characters forgive the major and minor misdeeds of others. Forgiveness redeems the offender but also enriches the character of the person who forgives. Some of this was a bit hard to take ('Florence, he's WORTH...more
Forgiveness is clearly promoted here. Florence continues to love her appalling father however badly he behaves (and he behaves very badly). Other characters forgive the major and minor misdeeds of others. Forgiveness redeems the offender but also enriches the character of the person who forgives. Some of this was a bit hard to take ('Florence, he's WORTH...more
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Read in January, 2008
This was my third reading (at least), but first in nearly 20 years. Holds up well. Characters are very funny, it has deeply moving moments as well. Typically Dickensian treatment of women who are flawed...there is seldom any hope of redemption for them (i.e., Edith and Alice), though Dombey himself is happy in the bosom of his daughter's family at the end of 900 pages. One of my top five favorite Dickens novels for its gorgeous language and effective use of repeated phrases to build tension ...more
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Read in December, 2005
It has a mention, though not flattering, of people group! He writes of “a gipsey” as “that medley race of vagabonds who tramp about the country, begging, and stealing, and tinkering, and weaving rushes, by turns or all together ….” (Pg 331) I wonder - if possible to survive a shipwrecked life and return, as it were, from the grave - if other fathers would find redemption in abandoning deadly pride and embracing their children? How much different would life be for both the children, gra...more
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Read in January, 2002
Anyone fascinated by the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the British inheritance system of primogeniture can tell you that this is the perfect literary examination of the topic. Sadly, I have yet to meet anyone else who shares this interest (nay, OBSESSION) of mine. No matter--"Dombey and Son" will appeal to normal people too.
(Psst...but if you are a fellow primogeniture geek, I'd be happy to send you a copy of my master's thesis. No? You sure? *sigh* Okay... *cue Charlie Br...more
(Psst...but if you are a fellow primogeniture geek, I'd be happy to send you a copy of my master's thesis. No? You sure? *sigh* Okay... *cue Charlie Br...more
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Read in November, 2007
Dickens, as usual trying to expose the flaws in 18th century England, turns in this book to the issues in families and within a heirarchal society. Powerful, tragic, but with a typically peaceful ending, I think you have to be a true Dickens fan to make it through this one (which I am). It isn't as entertaining as some of this other books. Best Character: Cap'n Cuttle: a hook-handed ex-sailor who always means well, and therefore tends to cause more problems than he solves.
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Read in January, 1999
While reading about the status of women in Great Britain during the 19th century (Woman in White, Middlemarch, Villete, come to mind in the late nineties), I chose this novel of Dickens (from many choices of his, dear reader) because Florence is displaced repeatedly as the rightful heir to her father's business thus fortune throughout this long narrative. She is almost the first "noncharacter." I wonder if Kafka read this book before writing "The Trial"?
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When I read this for a college course on the 19th century British novel, I was not immediately thrilled with the choice. Why not read one of his better known books? But I was delighted by this book, particularly in the beginning description of Dombey, age 45 years and son, age 45 minutes. I wrote a paper even I was proud of for this book! (I did not excel at writing papers in the days before word processing helped with editing...)
Bina
Bina
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Not my favorite Dickens (that would be COPPERFIELD and GREAT EXPECTATIONS), but this is a great one, if a bit lesser known. It's amazing how quickly Dickens can make me cry, and I so love that the concerns of the poor were his concerns. And without spoiling the plot too much, I will say that the scene of the bad guy's demise (don't want to give the name or tell how it happened) is unforgettable.
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Read in June, 2007
a good book. definition feminist themes. i might even go so far as to say this is dickens' feminist novel. some funny dicken style humor but also some typical dickens style hardcore sappiness. the beginning is awesome, the first paragraph particularly memorable but the ending is a bit saccharine sweet. still, you've got to admire dickens for his attention to plot complexities.
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Read in July, 2007
Not the best of Dickens' books, but to be honest I like him so much that I'm willing to forgive him quite a lot. Like, for instance, the truly sickening Florence. And the ending, which was a bit of a cop-out (melodramatic and tearful reconciliation, and lots of kids who get named after their poor dead relatives). Edith was fairly interesting, though.
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Read in February, 2008
This novel seriously grew on me. I had a very difficult time getting through the first half, but once the character Edith showed up the plot became infinitely more interesting. There were some truly surprising turns in the plot, and the characters are fantastic; the female characters are especially nuanced and fascinating.
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Read in October, 2006
I adore Dickens and decided to take a class at Chicago's Newberry Library that would allow me to delve into some of his "b-sides." I don't think I ever would have approached "Dombey and Son" on my own (if nothing else, the length is extremely intimidating), but I'm really glad I've read it.
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Read in September, 2006
I loved this book. It's Charles Dickens to the T. It was a very long book but his characters are so rich and the story covered such a long time that I could hardly believe when it ended - I missed the characters. If you have good reading stamina and like detail it's good.
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Read in August, 2006
This book was good yet sad as all Dickens' books that I've read so far have been. In it a rich old man learns what's really important in life. Dickens' is another author I greatly enjoy. Although he's longwinded, his zany, kindhearted characters can't be beat.
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Read in October, 2003
One of my favorite books I read in college, this massive book is classic Dickens: enormous cast of characters, pages of details, and a heroine that really draws you in. Beware: this book is very long!
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