Dom-bey & Son"... Those three words conveyed the one idea of Mr. Dombeys life. The earth was made for Dombey & Son to trade in & the sun & moon were made to give them light. The hopes of Mr Dombey for the future of his shipping firm are centred on his delicate son Paul & Florence his devoted daughter is unloved & neglected. When the firm faces ruin & Dombeys second marriage ends in disaster only Florence has the strength & humanity to save her father from desolate solitude. This new edition contains Dickenss prefaces his working plans & all the original illustrations by Phiz. The text is that of the definitive Clarendon edition. It has been supplemented by a wide-ranging Introduction highlighting Dickenss engagement with his times & the touching exploration of family relationships which give the novel added depth & relevance. The Notes & Bibliography have been substantially revised extended & updated. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford Worlds Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxfords commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more."