Bleak House

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Hugh Dickson

The case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce has ground its way through the courts for generations. At its heart are Ada Clare and Richard Carstone, who find love - and terrible loss - through their involvement in the endless battle.

Meanwhile, her friend Esther Summeson, who believes she is an orphan, gradually discovers the truth of her identity. The court case throws out a web ensnaring all who come near it, including Lady Dedlock, the menacing lawyer Tulkingham, detective Bucket and tragic little waif Jo.

Secrets emerge, crimes are committed and love affairs bloom. But will anyone ever benefit from the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce?

©2008 BBC Audiobooks Ltd (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Bleak House

This is a great book. First the narrator does a fantastic job. Not an irritating voice, quite the contrary. Very pleasant to listen to. The different characters are easily identified. The story is well written. Some parts are predictable, others aren’t. I’ve listened to the book numerous times and enjoy it every time. The only negative think is during some sections when the part of the book is sorrowful, that portion is very quiet and hard to hear. I had to turn the volume up on a few sections. But overall, it was easy to hear. The book is easy to follow and I find enjoyable.

Bleak House

You can't go wrong with Dickens, however I did find it hard to hear and understand the narrator at times. There were times when his voice would go soft it was hard to hear. Also, some of the character voices he did were hard to understand.

Wonderful story, wonderfully read

The more Dickens I read, the more I appreciate his gift for creating timeless characters whose dreams and heartbreaks are ours. I was particularly touched by his treatment of Jo in Bleak House and then chuckled at his treatment of lawyers; some things never change. Hugh Dickson masterfully brought each character fo life. The book is full of intriguing characters and plot twists so Dickson's ability to create distinctive voices for each character was especially helpful and entertaining. This is a marvelous read and a moving story about humanity and simple goodness.

A slow start, satisfying finish

As Dickens is wont to do, the beginning was a bit slow. I hung in there and was rewarded! Multitalented narration by Dickson.

Audio Theater

The book is a classic and Hugh Dickson does a wonderful job of it. I have not heard the others, but Hugh does not disappoint and its enjoyable the whole way through. It's a long journey, so choose wisely.

My first Dickens experience

This was my first Dickens book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! The reader was excellent, and did a great job differentiating between characters. What a great way to make a long commute enjoyable.

Brilliant reading of a brilliant novel

Dickens's spellbinding indictment of the 19th Century British legal system and its tragic impact on the people caught up in it is populated with some of his most vividly drawn characters. Hugh Dickson renders them all perfectly, the high and the low and the middle, from the cool Lady Dedlock to the pathetic Jo to the hilarious William Guppy. I found myself laughing out loud and weeping at scenes that never made me weep before. Highly recommended.

Terrific Audible Book

The performance by the reader, Hugh Dickson, is unbelievably good. I hated for the story to end and to have to say goodbye to all those wonderfully named Dickens characters.

Enthralled

I've only listened to seven hours and I am so in awe of Hugh Dickson. Years ago I took a course on Dickens novels and I wish I had had this resource at that time. Amazing narrator!!!!!!!

A Masterpiece for a Masterpiece

Any additional comments?

i just finished this remarkable journey. i had read the book, seen the BBC miniseries (OK, so i can't stop seeing lady Deadlock a Diana rigg) and now have heard the audiobook. As a previous reviewer noted, Dickens is perfect for audiobook format, probably because Dickens in his day read his works aloud in performance, so likely wrote partly for performance. So combining text imminentlt written for speaking with the brilliant work of Hugh Dickson and you have something special. The reading was masterful, the characters well delineated, the tone always appropriate, the feelings strong. i have been listening to audiobooks for several years now, hooked on audibles monthly credits, so i have istened to a fair number. this is by far my favorite. I cannot recommend it highly enough.