Esquisses de Boz - Martin Chuzzlewit (Oeuvres, v.8)

Dickens was known for his social commentary; I wonder how much of his personal observations shaped the vivid characters and settings in this novel.

The sections set in America felt both humorous and pointed, but I’m curious whether readers from the time saw it as accurate critique or just caricature.

The shift between the two locations adds depth and critique, but I wonder what he aimed to highlight through this geographical juxtaposition.