|
'Where is my nephew?, asked Mr Jasper, wildly. 'Where is your nephew?' repeated Neveille. 'Why do you ask me?' 'I ask you,' retorted Jasper, 'because you were the last person in his company, and he is not to be found.' The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Dickens's last novel, lay unfinished at his death. Speculation remains rife as to its probably conclusion; evidence suggests that, fascinated as Dickens was by details of the plotting, his basic concernwas for character and appropriate setting, in particular the character of the hero-villain, Jasper. The ancient city of Cloisterham, its cathedral a reminder of mortality, human frailty, and the lawful life, is an effective background for what Dickens daughter called a tale of 'the tragic secrets of thehuman heart'. Humour is provided by a host of characters ranging fro Mr Grewgious, the admirable though eccentric lawyer, and Miss Twinkleton, guardian of the Young Ladies' Seminary, to Durdles, the hard-drinking stonemason, and Deputy, the irreverent lodging-house boy. Cover -- Contents -- Extra Illustrations -- Introduction -- Note on the Text -- A Chronology of Charles Dickens -- List of Illustrations -- THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD -- CHAPTER I: THE DAWN -- CHAPTER II: A DEAN, AND A CHAPTER ALSO -- CHAPTER III: THE NUNS' HOUSE -- CHAPTER IV: MR. SAPSEA -- CHAPTER V: MR. DURDLES AND FRIEND -- CHAPTER VI: PHILANTHROPY IN MINOR CANON CORNER -- CHAPTER VII: MORE CONFIDENCES THAN ONE -- CHAPTER VIII: DAGGERS DRAWN -- CHAPTER IX: BIRDS IN THE BUSH -- CHAPTER X: SMOOTHING THE WAY -- CHAPTER XI: A PICTURE AND A RING -- CHAPTER XII: A NIGHT WITH DURDLES -- CHAPTER XIII: BOTH AT THEIR BEST -- CHAPTER XIV: WHEN SHALL THESE THREE MEET AGAIN? -- CHAPTER XV: IMPEACHED -- CHAPTER XVI: DEVOTED -- CHAPTER XVII: PHILANTHROPY, PROFESSIONAL AND UNPROFESSIONAL -- CHAPTER XVIII: A SETTLER IN CLOISTERHAM -- CHAPTER XIX: SHADOW ON THE SUN-DIAL -- CHAPTER XX: A FLIGHT -- CHAPTER XXI: A RECOGNITION -- CHAPTER XXII: A GRITTY STATE OF THINGS COMES ON -- CHAPTER XXIII: THE DAWN AGAIN -- Appendix A: Manuscript List of Projected Names and Titles -- Appendix B: The Number Plans -- Appendix C: The Sapsea Fragment -- Explanatory Notes -- Select Bibliography.
|
