The Last Dickens by Matthew Pearl

Set in the late nineteenth century, Matthew Pearl’s The Last Dickens follows American publisher James Osgood as he navigates the crisis following Charles Dickens's sudden death. Since the author died before finishing his final mystery, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Osgood embarks on a dangerous international quest to find a rumored secret ending. His journey reveals a dark world of opium trafficking, literary piracy, and a conspiracy involving the villainous Wakefield. Accompanied by his bookkeeper Rebecca Sand, Osgood travels from Boston to London and the Dickens family estate to secure the firm’s future. The narrative intertwines historical figures with fictional intrigue, exploring the intense competition between publishing houses and the tragic influence of narcotics. Ultimately, the quest for the missing manuscript highlights the enduring legacy of Dickens and the lengths a loyal publisher will go to protect a literary masterpiece.