Our Mutual Friend
Complete textA body recovered from the Thames unsettles an expected inheritance and draws several London households into a web of suspicion. Around the fortune, wealthy newcomers, river workers, teachers, and social climbers negotiate appearances while trying to secure money, affection, or a place in society.
Continue readingAbout Our Mutual Friend
Dust heaps and the river give material form to a city that converts waste and death into profit. Dickens pairs a mystery of identity with sharply different domestic worlds, exposing how wealth changes the way people are seen. The comedy of fashionable conversation sits beside the precarious labor that respectable society prefers to overlook.
Reading focus
Read an inheritance mystery that connects London's fashionable rooms to river work, discarded objects, and the uncertain value of appearances.
This reading edition contains 326,094 words in 67 original sections. Read the text online with adjustable type and three colour themes, or keep a printable PDF.
Author: Charles Dickens. Language: English. Reading edition: 28 October 2026.
Opening excerpt
ON THE LOOK OUT
Contents
All sections- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 1 — On The Look Out9 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 2 — The Man From Somewhere21 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 3 — Another Man26 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 4 — The R. Wilfer Family22 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 5 — Boffin’S Bower31 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 6 — Cut Adrift30 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 7 — Mr Wegg Looks After Himself16 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 8 — Mr Boffin In Consultation25 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 9 — Mr And Mrs Boffin In Consultation27 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 10 — A Marriage Contract25 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 11 — Podsnappery29 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 12 — The Sweat Of An Honest Man’S Brow28 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 13 — Tracking The Bird Of Prey18 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 14 — The Bird Of Prey Brought Down15 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 15 — Two New Servants27 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 16 — Minders And Re-Minders30 min
- Book The First — The Cup And The Lip — Chapter 17 — A Dismal Swamp9 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 1 — Of An Educational Character34 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 2 — Still Educational21 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 3 — A Piece Of Work20 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 4 — Cupid Prompted23 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 5 — Mercury Prompting27 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 6 — A Riddle Without An Answer24 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 7 — In Which A Friendly Move Is Originated21 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 8 — In Which An Innocent Elopement Occurs31 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 9 — In Which The Orphan Makes His Will16 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 10 — A Successor12 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 11 — Some Affairs Of The Heart23 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 12 — More Birds Of Prey27 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 13 — A Solo And A Duett28 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 14 — Strong Of Purpose25 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 15 — The Whole Case So Far30 min
- Book The Second — Birds Of A Feather — Chapter 16 — An Anniversary Occasion22 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 1 — Lodgers In Queer Street23 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 2 — A Respected Friend In A New Aspect19 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 3 — The Same Respected Friend In More Aspects Than One11 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 4 — A Happy Return Of The Day23 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 5 — The Golden Dustman Falls Into Bad Company28 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 6 — The Golden Dustman Falls Into Worse Company27 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 7 — The Friendly Move Takes Up A Strong Position22 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 8 — The End Of A Long Journey22 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 9 — Somebody Becomes The Subject Of A Prediction31 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 10 — Scouts Out25 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 11 — In The Dark18 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 12 — Meaning Mischief15 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 13 — Give A Dog A Bad Name, And Hang Him19 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 14 — Mr Wegg Prepares A Grindstone For Mr Boffin’S Nose24 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 15 — The Golden Dustman At His Worst28 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 16 — The Feast Of The Three Hobgoblins28 min
- Book The Third — A Long Lane — Chapter 17 — A Social Chorus21 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 1 — Setting Traps22 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 2 — The Golden Dustman Rises A Little18 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 3 — The Golden Dustman Sinks Again19 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 4 — A Runaway Match19 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 5 — Concerning The Mendicant’S Bride33 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 6 — A Cry For Help26 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 7 — Better To Be Abel Than Cain22 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 8 — A Few Grains Of Pepper20 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 9 — Two Places Vacated21 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 10 — The Dolls’ Dressmaker Discovers A Word13 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 11 — Effect Is Given To The Dolls’ Dressmaker’S Discovery22 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 12 — The Passing Shadow25 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 13 — Showing How The Golden Dustman Helped To Scatter Dust20 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 14 — Checkmate To The Friendly Move23 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 15 — What Was Caught In The Traps That Were Set22 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 16 — Persons And Things In General21 min
- Book The Fourth — A Turning — Chapter 17 — The Voice Of Society14 min
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This edition contains the complete English literary text, with 67 sections and 326,094 words. This reading edition preserves the checked English text and its section order. No study notes have been added.
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