Sketches by Boz, Illustrative of Every-Day Life and Every-Day People by Charles Dickens is a collection of literary sketches vividly depicting everyday life and people in early 19th-century London. The work explores themes of poverty, bureaucracy, and community dynamics, capturing the diverse characters within daily life. In the opening scene, readers are introduced to the parish beadle, a figure of authority whose pompous demeanor and the absurd situations surrounding him make him a subject of satire. For instance, comedic moments unfold when the parish fire engine fails to work properly in an emergency. As the sketches progress, other figures emerge, such as the dedicated but downtrodden parish schoolmaster, along with various parishioners, revealing the struggles of the lower classes. Through these portrayals, Dickens not only critiques social institutions but also seeks to evoke empathy and understanding for the lives of ordinary people.

PREFACE

OUR PARISH
CHAPTER I?THE BEADLE. THE PARISH ENGINE. THE
CHAPTER II?THE CURATE. THE OLD LADY. THE HALF-PAY CAPTAIN
CHAPTER III?THE FOUR SISTERS
CHAPTER IV?THE ELECTION FOR BEADLE
CHAPTER V?THE BROKER’S MAN
CHAPTER VI?THE LADIES’ SOCIETIES
CHAPTER VII?OUR NEXT-DOOR NEIGHBOUR

SCENES
CHAPTER I?THE STREETS?MORNING
CHAPTER II?THE STREETS?NIGHT
CHAPTER III?SHOPS AND THEIR TENANTS
CHAPTER IV?SCOTLAND-YARD
CHAPTER V?SEVEN DIALS
CHAPTER VI?MEDITATIONS IN MONMOUTH-STREET
CHAPTER VII?HACKNEY-COACH STANDS
CHAPTER VIII?DOCTORS’ COMMONS
CHAPTER IX?LONDON RECREATIONS
CHAPTER X?THE RIVER
CHAPTER XI?ASTLEY’S
CHAPTER XII?GREENWICH FAIR
CHAPTER XIII?PRIVATE THEATRES
CHAPTER XIV?VAUXHALL-GARDENS BY DAY
CHAPTER XV?EARLY COACHES
CHAPTER XVI?OMNIBUSES
CHAPTER XVII?THE LAST CAB-DRIVER, AND THE FIRST OMNIBUS CAD
CHAPTER XVIII?A PARLIAMENTARY SKETCH
CHAPTER XIX?PUBLIC DINNERS
CHAPTER XX?THE FIRST OF MAY
CHAPTER XXI?BROKERS’ AND MARINE-STORE SHOPS
CHAPTER XXII?GIN-SHOPS
CHAPTER XXIII?THE PAWNBROKER’S SHOP
CHAPTER XXIV?CRIMINAL COURTS
CHAPTER XXV?A VISIT TO NEWGATE

CHARACTERS
CHAPTER I?THOUGHTS ABOUT PEOPLE
CHAPTER II?A CHRISTMAS DINNER
CHAPTER III?THE NEW YEAR
CHAPTER IV?MISS EVANS AND THE EAGLE
CHAPTER V?THE PARLOUR ORATOR
CHAPTER VI?THE HOSPITAL PATIENT
CHAPTER VII?THE MISPLACED ATTACHMENT OF MR. JOHN DOUNCE
CHAPTER VIII?THE MISTAKEN MILLINER. A TALE OF AMBITION
CHAPTER IX?THE DANCING ACADEMY
CHAPTER X?SHABBY-GENTEEL PEOPLE
CHAPTER XI?MAKING A NIGHT OF IT
CHAPTER XII?THE PRISONERS’ VAN

TALES
CHAPTER I?THE BOARDING-HOUSE
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER THE SECOND.
CHAPTER II?MR. MINNS AND HIS COUSIN
CHAPTER III?SENTIMENT
CHAPTER IV?THE TUGGSES AT RAMSGATE
CHAPTER V?HORATIO SPARKINS
CHAPTER VI?THE BLACK VEIL
CHAPTER VII?THE STEAM EXCURSION
CHAPTER VIII?THE GREAT WINGLEBURY DUEL
CHAPTER IX?MRS. JOSEPH PORTER
CHAPTER X?A PASSAGE IN THE LIFE OF MR. WATKINS TOTTLE
CHAPTER THE FIRST
CHAPTER THE SECOND
CHAPTER XI?THE BLOOMSBURY CHRISTENING
CHAPTER XII?THE DRUNKARD’S DEATH
SKETCHES OF YOUNG GENTLEMEN
THE BASHFUL YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE OUT-AND-OUT YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE VERY FRIENDLY YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE MILITARY YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE POLITICAL YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE DOMESTIC YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE CENSORIOUS YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE FUNNY YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE THEATRICAL YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE POETICAL YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE ‘THROWING-OFF’ YOUNG GENTLEMAN
THE YOUNG LADIES’ YOUNG GENTLEMAN
CONCLUSION

SKETCHES OF YOUNG COUPLES
AN URGENT REMONSTRANCE, &c.
THE YOUNG COUPLE
THE FORMAL COUPLE
THE LOVING COUPLE
THE CONTRADICTORY COUPLE
THE COUPLE WHO DOTE UPON THEIR CHILDREN
THE COOL COUPLE
THE PLAUSIBLE COUPLE
THE NICE LITTLE COUPLE
THE EGOTISTICAL COUPLE
THE COUPLE WHO CODDLE THEMSELVES
THE OLD COUPLE
CONCLUSION

THE MUDFOG AND OTHER SKETCHES
PUBLIC LIFE OF MR. TULRUMBLE?ONCE MAYOR OF MUDFOG
FULL REPORT OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE MUDFOG ASSOCIATION
‘SECTION A.?ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY. GREAT ROOM, PIG AND TINDER-BOX.
‘SECTION B.?ANATOMY AND MEDICINE. COACH-HOUSE, PIG AND TINDER-BOX.
‘SECTION C.?STATISTICS. HAY-LOFT, ORIGINAL PIG.
‘SECTION D.?MECHANICAL SCIENCE. COACH-HOUSE, ORIGINAL PIG.
FULL REPORT OF THE SECOND MEETING OF THE MUDFOG ASSOCIATION
‘SECTION A.?ZOOLOGY AND BOTANY. FRONT PARLOUR, BLACK BOY AND STOMACH-ACHE.
‘SECTION B.?DISPLAY OF MODELS AND MECHANICAL SCIENCE. LARGE ROOM, BOOT-JACK AND COUNTENANCE.
‘SECTION C.?ANATOMY AND MEDICINE. BAR ROOM, BLACK BOY AND STOMACH-ACHE.
‘SECTION D.?STATISTICS. OUT-HOUSE, BLACK BOY AND STOMACH-ACHE.
‘SUPPLEMENTARY SECTION, E.?UMBUGOLOGY AND DITCHWATERISICS.
THE PANTOMIME OF LIFE
SOME PARTICULARS CONCERNING A LION
MR. ROBERT BOLTON: THE ‘GENTLEMAN CONNECTED WITH THE PRESS’
FAMILIAR EPISTLE FROM A PARENT TO A CHILD

Footnotes: