Charles Dickens. Martin Chuzzlewit (1844) , “Martin Chuzzle-what?”

Charles Dickens - The Old Curiosity Shop. 

(Please note this episode was the first of My Charles Dickens episodes originally recorded in 2025 as a free 'subscribes  only' bonus episode for people following the Bible Project Daily Podcast on Patreon). 

Episode Notes:

Hello and welcome to today’s episode, where I drop into the world of Martin Chuzzlewit—the Dickens novel that even some Dickens fans sometimes only pretend they’ve read. If Oliver Twist would become a popular kids' movie, and A Christmas Carol everybody’s favourite sentimental movie. Martin Chuzzlewit is more like that eccentric foreign film that shows up on late-night TV and insists on the character discussing opaque philosophy in its subtitles.

But don’t be fooled by its reputation. This novel is a spiritual goldmine wrapped in satire, stuffed with schemers, and sprinkled with just enough organ music and malaria to keep things interesting. We’ve got hypocrites, murderers, and one man who believes true happiness only counts if you earn it in a swamp. So, let’s step into the Chuzzleverse, where selfishness reigns, grace surprises, and even the most stubborn hearts can be softened….