Paul Clifford — Volume 02

"Paul Clifford — Volume 02" by Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton is a novel set in the 1800's that tells the tale of Paul Clifford as he sits in jail thinking about his life choices. Inside, he meets characters of different moral standings, like Dummie Dunnaker and August Tomlinson which brings up the topic of being friends, crime, and not having the same opportunities as others. Having just gone though a traumatic experience, Paul hopes that friends like Long Ned will come to his rescue; showcasing his innocence and ideals that he learned from books. But Dummie is there to bring him down to earth and shows him how things really are. Paul's dream of being a good person is challenged by the bad influences around him, which sets things up for a story about right and wrong, and how hard it can be to be good. The novel starts Paul’s journey into a world of shady characters, and hints at the struggles between what he wants to be and the forces pulling him toward a darker path.