The Pickwick Papers

Charles Dickens was still only 24 when, in his own words, "I thought of Mr Pickwick..." The Pickwick Papers soon became a national craze. Mr Pickwick, his friends Tupman, Winkle and Snodgrass, and his cockney servant the immortal Sam Weller, have been among the most popular characters in fiction ever since.

Owing to an unfortunate case of mistaken identity Mr Winkle has been challenged to a duel by the ferocious Dr Slammer. Apparently calm, but inwardly terrified, he prepares for his appointment with destiny.

Mr Winkle is in disgrace after accidentally wounding Mr Tupman on a rook-shooting expedition. Mr Pickwick and his friends have decided to go to the cricket match at Dingley Dell.

Mr Pickwick and Mr Wardle, accompanied by Mr Perker, Mr Pickwick's lawyer, have succeeded in catching up with Mr Jingle and Rachael at the White Hart Inn. Now, with the aid of the 'boots', a certain Sam Weller, they are about to confront the unsuspecting runaways.

Mr Pickwick re-encounters Mr Jingle at Mrs Leo Hunter's breakfast party, but Mr Jingle evades him. Accompanied by Sam Weller, Mr Pickwick pursues Jingle to Bury, determined to track him down.

After escaping from his embarrassing situation in the pound Mr Pickwick sets off for London to see Messrs Dodson and Fogg, to demand an explanation of Mrs Bardell's writ for breach of promise.

Due to an unfortunate mishap, Mr Pickwick has placed Miss Witherfield in an embarrassing position, and quarrelled with Peter Magnus. Miss Witherfield fears the quarrel may result in a duel, and decides to take action.

Mr Pickwick and his companions have extricated themselves from their predicament with Mr Nupkins and are setting off to spend Christmas with Mr Wardle at Dingley Dell.

Far from reassured by an interview with his lawyer, Serjeant Snubbin, Mr Pickwick prepares for the ordeal of his trial for breach of promise as the case of Bardell v Pickwick comes to court.

Mr Pickwick has lost the case of Bardell v Pickwick: costs and heavy damages have been awarded against him. Outraged at this injustice, Mr Pickwick declares that sooner than pay one penny to Dodson and Fogg he will go to prison.

Holding to his resolution not to pay the unjust damages awarded against him, Mr Pickwick has taken up residence in the Fleet Prison, where he is shocked and saddened by the misery around him. Now, it seems, he has even lost the services of the faithful Sam Weller.

Persuaded by his lawyer Mr Perker, Mr Pickwick has paid the costs in the case of Bardell v Pickwick. This secures not only Mrs Bardell's release but his own, and frees him to sort out the problems caused by Mr Winkle's runaway marriage.