What is the title of Charles Dickens's first published novel?

The title of Charles Dickens's first published novel was The Pickwick Papers. Its full title was The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, but readers and publishers commonly use the shorter name.

The novel first appeared in serial form between March 1836 and November 1837, issued in 19 parts. Dickens wrote it after the success of Sketches by Boz, linking comic episodes to illustrations originally planned for artist Robert Seymour. The book follows the travels and comic misadventures of Samuel Pickwick and members of his club.

The Pickwick Papers helped make Dickens famous and popularised serial fiction, including the suspenseful cliffhangers that encouraged readers to buy each new instalment. A common mix-up is Oliver Twist, which followed it as Dickens's second novel. Sketches by Boz came earlier, but it was a collection of sketches rather than a novel.