Paul Clifford — Complete

"Paul Clifford" by Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton is a story about a young man growing up in the tough streets of London, where he faces crime, moral problems, and tries to figure out who he is. The book looks closely at the problems in society, especially how the justice system treats people and what makes someone commit a crime. The story begins on a stormy night in London, where a man named Dummie tries to find a Bible for a sick woman, Judy, but ends up bringing her a collection of plays, which adds some humor to the dark situation. Judy's sickroom and her troubled relationship with her child are shown in great detail, highlighting the sadness and suffering that comes with poverty, while pointing out that people's situations greatly affect their lives, and it looks at topics like a mother's love, neglect, and how society fails criminals after they're released from prison, suggesting bigger ideas that will be explored as the story goes on.