As discussed on the previous Davis Copperfield Readalong, I hope some of us are eager to start Our Mutual Friend!
This is quite a complex one to break up. As usual, Dickens published in 19 monthly instalments but this one has 4 'Books' .
It is split up as follows:
BOOK THE FIRST: THE CUP AND THE LIP
I – May 1864 (chapters 1–4);
II – June 1864 (chapters 5–7);
III – July 1864 (chapters 8–10);
IV – August 1864 (chapters 11–13);
V – September 1864 (chapters 14–17).
BOOK THE SECOND: BIRDS OF A FEATHER
VI – October 1864 (chapters 1–3);
VII – November 1864 (chapters 4–6);
VIII – December 1864 (chapters 7–10);
IX – January 1865 (chapters 11–13);
X – February 1865 (chapters 14–16).
BOOK THE THIRD: A LONG LANE
XI – March 1865 (chapters 1–4);
XII – April 1865 (chapters 5–7);
XIII – May 1865 (chapters 8–10);
XIV – June 1865 (chapters 11–14);
XV – July 1865 (chapters 15–17).
BOOK THE FOURTH: A TURNING
XVI – August 1865 (chapters 1–4);
XVII – September 1865 (chapters 5–7);
XVIII – October 1865 (chapters 8–11);
XIX-XX – November 1865 [chapters 12–17 (Chapter the Last)].
4 instalments is feasible but might be too much for those of us working/ reading other books/child or DP wrangling/ insert other reason.
Therefore, I would suggest 8 instalments, splitting each book in two somehow?
That would take us to March 2021 and then we can pretend 2020 never existed.
Up for it? Thoughts?
Looking forward to it! All usual suspects and newcomers welcome.