by Charles Dickens, 1837
Finished on the way up to Adam and Danette’s wedding. Fell in love with Charles Dickens again! Wow! Fell in love with Mr. Pickwick – a fine old Gentleman, and Sam, his servant, who says ‘W’ as ‘V’ and ‘V’ as ‘W.” “Wictim, Wery, Vay, Vith, Vot, Vos.”
Sam’s Dad, Mr. Weller, a coachman, married to a widow – calls Sam, “Sammy,” or “Samivel.”
Sam gets Mr. Pickwick out of trouble so many times. Adventures with politics, doctors, lawyers, bad people, good people. Adventures in debtor prison – the Fleet. Adventures in hunting, and sliding (on ice?) and drinking! Experiences with the scoundrels, Jingle and Job Trotter. Experiences with the other Pickwickians – Mr. Winkle, Mr. Snodgrass, and Mr. Tupman. Mr. Pickwick’s lawyer, Perker, a fine man – loves his snuff.
And many irritating women and a few beautiful women. Mary-housemaid – Sam’s love. Arabella Allen – marries Mr. Winkle.
Oh, how I loved this book – adventures, funny! Great stories – the goblins that kidnapped the sexton (gravedigger) – the wild ride in coaches to rescue a beautiful maiden. And his descriptions of Christmas and summer. Everything is a delight! What good men are Pickwick and his Sam. Loved it, loved it, loved it!
Here are the last few lines:
“Every year he repairs to a large family merrymaking at Mr. Wardle’s; on this, as on all other occasions, he is invariably attended by the faithful Sam, between whom and his master there exists a steady and reciprocal attachment, which nothing but death will sever.”