On its monthly publication, in 1843-44, "Martin Chuzzlewit"
was, pecuniarily, the least successful of Dickens's serials,
though popular as a book. It was his first novel after his
American tour, and the storm of resentment that had hailed the
appearance of "American Notes," in 1842, was intensified by
his merciless satire of American characteristics and
institutions in "Martin Chuzzlewit." Despite all adverse
criticism, however, "Chuzzlewit" is worthy to rank with
anything that ever came from the pen of the great Victorian
novelist. It is a very long story, and a very full one; the
canvas is crowded with a gallery of typical Dickensian people.
Through Mrs. Gamp, Dickens dealt a death-blow to the drunken
nurse of the period. The name Pecksniff has become synonymous
with a certain type of hypocrite, and the adjective
Pecksniffian is in common use wherever the English language is
spoken. Charged with exaggeration regarding Mr. Pecksniff,
Dickens wrote in the preface to "Martin Chuzzlewit," "All the
Pecksniff family upon earth are quite agreed, I believe, that
no such character ever existed. I will not offer any plea on
his behalf to so powerful and genteel a body." Mrs. Gamp,
though one of the humorous types that have, perhaps,
contributed most largely to the fame of Dickens, does not
appear in this epitome, the character being a minor one in the
development of the story.

_I.--Mr. Pecksniff's New Pupil_

Mr. Pecksniff lived in a little Wiltshire village within an easy journey
of Salisbury.

The brazen plate upon his door bore the inscription, "Pecksniff,
Architect," to which Mr. Pecksniff, on his cards of business, added,
"and Land Surveyor." Of his architectural doings nothing was clearly
known, except that he had never designed or built anything.

Mr. Pecksniff's professional engagements, indeed, were almost, if not
entirely, confined to the reception of pupils. His genius lay in
ensnaring parents and guardians and pocketing premiums.

Mr. Pecksniff was a moral man. Perhaps there never was a more moral man
than Mr. Pecksniff, especially in his conversation and correspondence.
Some people likened him to a direction-post, which is always telling the
way to a place, and never goes there; but these were his enemies.

Into Mr. Pecksniff's house came young Martin Chuzzlewit, a relation of
the archit