EPISODE · Feb 19, 2026 · 42 MIN
018 - bk2_01 - Book the Second - Chapter 01 OF AN EDUCATIONAL CHARACTER
from Our Mutual Friend · host Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens final complete novel, published serially between 1864 and 1865, opens with a captivating twist of fate for John Harmon, heir to a fortune left by his wealthy dust contractor father. To inherit this wealth, John must marry Bella Wilfer, a woman he has never met. As he returns from a forced exile, he confides in a shipmate who has sinister intentions, resulting in a deadly encounter that leaves John presumed dead. With the fortune now in the hands of Mr. Boffin, Harmons former foreman, John assumes the identity of John Rokesmith and takes a job working for Boffin. Bella initially dismisses John, but through Boffin’s well-meaning schemes, she begins to learn the true value of life beyond money and ultimately falls for her suitor disguised as Rokesmith. Meanwhile, a subplot unfolds around Eugene Wrayburn and his affection for Lizzie Hexam, intertwined with rivalries and deadly threats. With a richly diverse cast of characters and social commentary, Dickens masterfully weaves together these narratives of love, identity, and morality. (Summary written by Alan Chant).
What this episode covers
Charles Dickens final complete novel, published serially between 1864 and 1865, opens with a captivating twist of fate for John Harmon, heir to a fortune left by his wealthy dust contractor father. To inherit this wealth, John must marry Bella Wilfer, a woman he has never met. As he returns from a forced exile, he confides in a shipmate who has sinister intentions, resulting in a deadly encounter that leaves John presumed dead. With the fortune now in the hands of Mr. Boffin, Harmons former foreman, John assumes the identity of John Rokesmith and takes a job working for Boffin. Bella initially dismisses John, but through Boffin’s well-meaning schemes, she begins to learn the true value of life beyond money and ultimately falls for her suitor disguised as Rokesmith. Meanwhile, a subplot unfolds around Eugene Wrayburn and his affection for Lizzie Hexam, intertwined with rivalries and deadly threats. With a richly diverse cast of characters and social commentary, Dickens masterfully weaves together these narratives of love, identity, and morality. (Summary written by Alan Chant).
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018 - bk2_01 - Book the Second - Chapter 01 OF AN EDUCATIONAL CHARACTER
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