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TL;DR: A body pulled from the Thames is identified as John Harmon, heir to a fortune made from London's dust heaps. But Harmon is alive and takes a false name to observe Bella Wilfer, the woman he was ordered to marry. Around this mystery, Dickens weaves a sharp satire of money, class and greed, with a second love story between a lawyer and a river worker's daughter.
Table of Contents
Our Mutual Friend at a Glance
| Author | Charles Dickens |
| First published | 1865 |
| Type | Novel |
| Best for | readers who want a late, dark and witty Dickens novel about money |
Our Mutual Friend is the last completed novel by Charles Dickens, published in 1864–65. It explores how money corrupts people and how love and character can resist it. Below you will find a part-by-part summary, five key takeaways, ideas worth remembering and a note on who will enjoy it.
Content note: Includes drowning, violence and an attempted murder.
Main Characters
- John Harmon (John Rokesmith): The heir who hides his identity.
- Bella Wilfer: A pretty, mercenary young woman who learns to value love.
- Mr. and Mrs. Boffin: Kind former servants who inherit the Harmon fortune.
- Lizzie Hexam: A brave, honest riverman's daughter.
- Eugene Wrayburn: A bored young lawyer who falls in love with Lizzie.
What Happens, Part by Part (Contains Spoilers)
The drowned heir
Gaffer Hexam and his daughter Lizzie make a living pulling bodies from the Thames. They find a corpse thought to be John Harmon, who was returning to London to inherit his father's dust-heap fortune on condition that he marry Bella Wilfer, whom he has never met. Since he appears dead, the fortune goes to the Harmons' good-hearted servants, the Boffins.
John Rokesmith
Harmon is alive. He survived an attack in which another man was killed, and now lives as John Rokesmith. He becomes Mr. Boffin's secretary and lodges with the Wilfers, getting to know Bella. Bella wants money above all, and the Boffins take her into their home.
Mr. Boffin's change
Mr. Boffin appears to become a miser, cruel and money-obsessed. He mistreats Rokesmith, and Bella is horrified. Her disgust shows her own values changing, and she chooses to marry the poor Rokesmith for love. Later it is revealed that Boffin pretended in order to test and cure Bella of greed, with Harmon's help.
Lizzie and Eugene
Lizzie Hexam is loved by two men: the idle gentleman Eugene Wrayburn and the jealous schoolmaster Bradley Headstone. Lizzie flees to escape them. Headstone, consumed by jealousy, attacks Eugene and leaves him for dead in the river. Lizzie, an expert boatwoman, rescues him.
Endings
Eugene, near death, marries Lizzie, defying class prejudice. Headstone, exposed by the cunning Rogue Riderhood, drags him into a lock, and both drown. Harmon reveals his true identity, and he and Bella inherit the fortune. The scheming Wegg, who tried to blackmail Boffin with a later will, is defeated.
5 Key Takeaways
- Money can corrupt, but it does not have to.
- Love can change selfish people.
- Class prejudice blinds people to true worth.
- Jealousy can turn into violence.
- Kindness may be disguised as a test.
Ideas Worth Remembering
These are paraphrased, not direct quotes:
- What people value reveals who they are.
- Wealth built on waste, like the dust heaps, is a symbol of society.
- The river gives and takes life.
Who Should Read Our Mutual Friend?
Read Our Mutual Friend if you enjoy complex Dickens novels with satire and romance. It suits adults and patient older teens.
Questions to Think About After Reading
These prompts work for solo reading, a book club or a classroom discussion of Our Mutual Friend:
- Is Bella's transformation believable?
- Why does Mr. Boffin pretend to be a miser?
- How does the river shape the story?
How to Use This Summary
Use this page as a quick reference before a book club meeting, an exam, or a decision about whether Our Mutual Friend is worth your time. The takeaways are written to stand on their own. If a point interests you, go back to the book for the author's full story, characters and style, which no short summary can replace.
A Note on Accuracy and Spoilers
This summary is based on the published text of Our Mutual Friend, not on any film, series or stage adaptation, which often change the story. Details are kept at the level of the main events so that nothing is invented. Editions differ slightly in length and wording, so page numbers and small details may vary between copies.
Should You Read the Book?
Yes. It is long and dense, but rich with memorable characters and some of Dickens's sharpest satire about money.
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What to Read Next
- Bleak House by Charles Dickens: another dark London satire
- Great Expectations by Charles Dickens: money and identity
- Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray: greed and society
Related: Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens: Summary and Key Takeaways · Bleak House by Charles Dickens: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Our Mutual Friend about?
A hidden heir, a woman who loves money and the corrupting power of wealth in London.
Who wrote it?
Charles Dickens, his last completed novel.
Is John Harmon really dead?
No. He survives and takes the name John Rokesmith.
Who does Bella marry?
John Harmon, believing him to be the poor Rokesmith.
What are the dust heaps?
Huge piles of rubbish and ash that made old Harmon rich.
Who attacks Eugene Wrayburn?
Bradley Headstone, a jealous schoolmaster.
What age is it for?
Adults and older teens.
How long is it?
About 900 pages.
Is there a TV adaptation?
Yes, including a 1998 BBC series.
Who rescues Eugene from the river?
Lizzie Hexam, who knows the river well.
Is Our Mutual Friend worth reading?
It depends on what you want. The book is best for readers who want a late, dark and witty Dickens novel about money. If that describes you, it is likely a good fit. If not, the titles under What to Read Next may suit you better.