The Life and Adventures of Martin Chuzzlewit (commonly known as Martin Chuzzlewit) is considered the last of Dickens' picaresque novels. It was originally serialized in 1843 and 1844. Its main themeis selfishness, portrayed in a satirical fashion using all the members of the Chuzzlewit family. The novel is also notable for two of Dickens' great villains, Seth Pecksniff and Jonas Chuzzlewit. But it is also notable for its portrayal of America and Americans, a portrayal which caused great indignation in the United States at the time, despite Dickens' enormous popularity.
Overall, it was one of his least popular novels. Early sales of the novel's monthly installments were disappointing, compared to previous works, so Dickens changed the plot to send the title character to America.allowing him to portray the United States (which he had visited in 1842) satirically as a near wilderness with pockets of civilization filled with deceptive and self-promoting hucksters. Dickens later incorporated a clarification - almost an apology - for the impression he gave of the country in the novel.
