Dombey and Son is an early 19th-century work by Charles Dickens, centered around Mr. Dombey and his newborn son, Paul. Mr. Dombey, a successful businessman, harbors grand ambitions for his son as the heir to the family name and business. The novel delves into themes of pride, gender roles, and family relationships, vividly contrasting Mr. Dombey's cold and stern demeanor with the suffering of his vulnerable family members.
At the start, Mr. Dombey rejoices at the birth of his son but shows a striking indifference toward his gravely ill wife. His attention is solely focused on his son, the successor to his legacy, while his young daughter, Florence, is nearly invisible to him. The delicate family dynamics hint at the growing estrangement between Mr. Dombey, his wife, and Florence, foreshadowing the conflicts and transformations they will face. The story opens with a somber tone, gradually revealing the challenges and growth that each character will encounter.

CHAPTER I. Dombey and Son
CHAPTER II. In which Timely Provision is made for an Emergency that will sometimes arise in the best-regulated Families
CHAPTER III. In which Mr Dombey, as a Man and a Father, is seen at the Head of the Home-Department
CHAPTER IV. In which some more First Appearances are made on the Stage of these Adventures
CHAPTER V. Paul’s Progress and Christening
CHAPTER VI. Paul’s Second Deprivation
CHAPTER VII. A Bird’s-eye Glimpse of Miss Tox’s Dwelling-place: also of the State of Miss Tox’s Affections
CHAPTER VIII. Paul’s Further Progress, Growth and Character
CHAPTER IX. In which the Wooden Midshipman gets into Trouble
CHAPTER X. Containing the Sequel of the Midshipman’s Disaster
CHAPTER XI. Paul’s Introduction to a New Scene
CHAPTER XII. Paul’s Education
CHAPTER XIII. Shipping Intelligence and Office Business
CHAPTER XIV. Paul grows more and more Old-fashioned, and goes Home for the Holidays
CHAPTER XV. Amazing Artfulness of Captain Cuttle, and a new Pursuit for Walter Gay
CHAPTER XVI. What the Waves were always saying
CHAPTER XVII. Captain Cuttle does a little Business for the Young People
CHAPTER XVIII. Father and Daughter
CHAPTER XIX. Walter goes away
CHAPTER XX. Mr Dombey goes upon a Journey
CHAPTER XXI. New Faces
CHAPTER XXII. A Trifle of Management by Mr Carker the Manager
CHAPTER XXIII. Florence solitary, and the Midshipman mysterious
CHAPTER XXIV. The Study of a Loving Heart
CHAPTER XXV. Strange News of Uncle Sol
CHAPTER XXVI. Shadows of the Past and Future
CHAPTER XXVII. Deeper Shadows
CHAPTER XXVIII. Alterations
CHAPTER XXIX. The Opening of the Eyes of Mrs Chick
CHAPTER XXX. The interval before the Marriage
CHAPTER XXXI. The Wedding
CHAPTER XXXII. The Wooden Midshipman goes to Pieces
CHAPTER XXXIII. Contrasts
CHAPTER XXXIV. Another Mother and Daughter
CHAPTER XXXV. The Happy Pair
CHAPTER XXXVI. Housewarming
CHAPTER XXXVII. More Warnings than One
CHAPTER XXXVIII. Miss Tox improves an Old Acquaintance
CHAPTER XXXIX. Further Adventures of Captain Edward Cuttle, Mariner
CHAPTER XL. Domestic Relations
CHAPTER XLI. New Voices in the Waves
CHAPTER XLII. Confidential and Accidental
CHAPTER XLIII. The Watches of the Night
CHAPTER XLIV. A Separation
CHAPTER XLV. The Trusty Agent
CHAPTER XLVI. Recognizant and Reflective
CHAPTER XLVII. The Thunderbolt
CHAPTER XLVIII. The Flight of Florence
CHAPTER XLIX. The Midshipman makes a Discovery
CHAPTER L. Mr Toots’s Complaint
CHAPTER LI. Mr Dombey and the World
CHAPTER LII. Secret Intelligence
CHAPTER LIII. More Intelligence
CHAPTER LIV. The Fugitives
CHAPTER LV. Rob the Grinder loses his Place
CHAPTER LVI. Several People delighted, and the Game Chicken disgusted
CHAPTER LVII. Another Wedding
CHAPTER LVIII. After a Lapse
CHAPTER LIX. Retribution
CHAPTER LX. Chiefly Matrimonial
CHAPTER LXI. Relenting
CHAPTER LXII. Final
PREFACE OF 1848
PREFACE OF 1867