...as if it were some natural curiousity from the near inspection whereof he was likely to derive high gratification and improvement...

These passages from Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens have had me almost howling with laughter at times due to Dickens's absolutely magical way with words, so I definitely had to share them. They're all from the family meeting in the fourth chapter of the book:

"If ever Mr Pecksniff wore an apostolic look, he wore it on this memorable day. If ever his unruffled smile proclaimed the words, "I am a messenger of peace!" that was its mission now. If ever a man combined within himself all the mild qualities of the lamb with a considerable touch of the dove and not the least dash of the crocodile, or the least possible suggestion of the very mildest seasoning of the serpent, that man was he. And, oh, the two Miss Pecksniffs! Oh, the serene expression on the face of Charity, which seemed to say, "I know that all of my family have injured me beyond the possibility of reparation, but I forgive them, for it is my duty to do so!"..."
"First there was Mr Spottletoe, who was so bald and had such big whiskers, that he seemed to have stopped his hair, by the sudden application of some powerful remedy, in the very act of falling off his head and to have fastened it irrevocably on his face..."
"Then there were Anthony Chuzzlewit, and his son Jonas: the face of the old man so sharpened by the wariness and cunning of his life, that it seemed to cut him a passage through the crowded room, as he edged away behind the remotest chairs..."
"Then there was George Chuzzlewit, a gay bachelor cousin, who claimed to be young but had been younger, and was rather inclined to corpulency, and rather over-fed himself—to that extent, indeed, that his eyes were strained in their sockets as if with constant surprise; and he had such an obvious disposition to pimples, that the bright spots on his cravat, the rich pattern on his waistcoat, and even his glittering trinkets seemed to have broken out upon him, and not to have come into existence comfortably..."
"The two Miss Pecksniffs being a pretty good match for the three Miss Chuzzlewits, and all five young ladies having, in the figurative language of the day, a great amount of steam to dispose of, the altercation would no doubt have been a long one but for the high valour and prowess of the strong-minded woman, who in right of her reputation for the powers of sarcasm, did so belabour and pummel Mrs Spottletoe with taunting words that the poor lady, before the engagement was two minutes old, had no refuge but in tears. These she shed plentifully, and so much to the agitation and grief of Mr Spottletoe, that the gentleman, after holding his clenched fist close to Mr Pecksniff's eyes, as if it were some natural curiousity from the near inspection whereof he was likely to derive high gratification and improvement, and after offering (for no particular reason that anybody could discover) to kick Mr George Chuzzlewit for, and in consideration of, the triffling sum of sixpence, took his wife under his arm, and indignantly withdrew. This diversion, by distracting the attention of the combatants put an end to the strife, which after breaking out afresh some twice or thrice in certain inconsiderable spurts and dashes, died away in silence."

You can find the e-text here: http://www.bibliomania.com/0/0/19/43/frameset.html

Martin Chuzzlewit is considered to be the last of Dickens's picaresque novels, as Dickens's work tended to move more towards heavier and darker social commentary work following this novel. The book has one of my favourite Dickens characters, that of Tom Pinch, who is just such a lovely person. Plus it's also a fascinating look at a variety of "evils" of character (including the description about Mr Pecksniff of being like "...a direction-post which is always telling the way... and never gets there...").

The American-based section of the book had always bored me a little and I tended to skip over it, but I was suprised to read this about Dickens's inspiration for what he wrote: "Astonished at the gross conceit of Americans and their lofty condescension to foreigners, as well as their tendency to use violence instead of compromise to solve disputes, Dickens noted the inconsistencies between American ideals and conduct."(Philip Allingham of Lakehead University). This followed a visit Dickens paid to America in 1942.

Funny how human behaviours don't change, whether it be in our selfishness or pride or greed or general treatment of others...