It is impossible to overstate the importance of British novelist CHARLES DICKENS (1812-1870) not only to literature in the English language, but to Western civilization on the whole. He is arguably the first fiction writer to have become an international celebrity. He popularized episodic fiction and the cliffhanger, which had a profound influence on the development of film and television. He is entirely responsible for the popular image of Victorian London that still lingers today, and his characters-from Oliver Twist to Ebenezer Scrooge, from Miss Havisham to Uriah Heep-have become not merely iconic, but mythic. But it was his stirring portraits of ordinary people-not the upper classes or the aristocracy-and his fervent cries for social, moral, and legal justice for the working poor, and in particular for poor children, in the grim early decades of the Industrial Revolution that powerfully impacted social concerns well into the 20th century. Without Charles Dickens, we may never have seen the likes of Sherlock Holmes, Upton Sinclair, or even Bob Dylan. Here, in 30 beautiful volumes-complete with all the original illustrations-is every published word written by one of the most important writers ever. The essential collector's set will delight anyone who cherishes English literature...and who takes pleasure in constantly rediscovering its joys. This volume contains Part II of The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit, which was originally serialized in standalone installments in 1843-44. The work Dickens considered his best, it is a satire on selfishness, revolving around the Chuzzlewit family, and is notable for what is perceived by some as anti-American attitudes, though Dickens intended his less than positive depictions of Americans as satirical, too.

Centuries ago, the Lodestone was split by the gods, sundering the power of magic into elemental quadrants. Each elemental quarter of the Lodestone was hidden in Watchtowers located at the cardinal directions, and human tribes formed around each Watchtower, taking on the qualities and powers of their elements. Pedar Tolris is the second son of the Chieftain of the Water Tribe, and he is a self-made dragon expert. His knowledge is needed when the Dragon Council sets out to reunite the Lodestone. He is chosen as the Dragon Bard when he is merged with the soul shard of the dragon Xaramuth. Along with representatives of the other Powers, he sets out to prevent the Dragon Council from destroying the natural order of magic by re-uniting the Lodestone and effectively ending the world. The fight centers on the mountain Shadowtop, where the dead dragon goddess Xetith lives again, tearing the fabric of time and gathering the Dragon Council and the elemental powers in her claws.