The novel was originally published in monthly instalments in the magazine Bentley\'s Miscellany, from February 1837 to April 1839.
The novel first appeared in book form six months before the initial serialisation was completed, in three volumes published by Richard Bentley, the owner of Bentley\'s Miscellany, under the author\'s.
George Cruikshank provided one steel etching per month to illustrate each instalment.
It was originally intended to form part of Dickens\'s serial, The Mudfog Papers.
The novel was originally published in monthly instalments in the magazine Bentley\'s Miscellany, from February 1837 to April 1839