Bleak House

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Simon Vance

Length: 32 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

First published in monthly parts from March 1852 to September 1853, this novel follows the fortunes of three pedestrian characters; Esther Summerson, Ada Clare, and Richard Carstone. The story they tell embondies Dickens' merciless indictment of the Court of Chancery and its bungling, morally corrupt handling of the endless case of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, giving the novel its scope and meaning.

Starting with Esther's account of her lonely, unhappy childhood, her role as protégée of the worthy John Jarndyce, Richard and Ada's guardian, the tale develops the relations between the three young people in the Jarndyce household. Numerous other characters contribute to the complex portrait of society which emerges from the novel. They include the romantic, effusive, and unworldly Harold Skimpole (based on Leigh Hunt, poet, journalist, and critic, who published The Examiner in which he introduced the public to Keats and Shelley); the boisterous, short-tempered Boythorn (based on Walter Savage Landor, poet and essayist, mentor to Robert Browning); Krook, the rag-and-bottle shopkeeper who dies a hideous death by 'spontaneous combustion'; Gridley and the crazed Miss Flite, both ruined by Chancery; Mrs. Jellyby, neglectful of domestic responsibilities in favor of 'telescope philanthropy'; the greasy Mr. Chadband, a parson 'of no particular denomination'; and Conversation Kenge and Mr. Vholes, lawyers both.

Of particular importance to the moral design of the novel is Jo, the crossing-sweeper whose brutish life and death are the instruments for one of Dickens' most savage judgments on an indifferent society.

(P)1998 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Dickens could not have performed better than Robert Whitfield does here....His brilliant dramatizations range from a homeless street urchin to an arrogant barrister, from a canny old windbag to a high-minded heroine who deserves the happy ending Dickens affords her....This may be one of the most Dickensian novels Dickens ever wrote." (Library Journal)

I didn’t know it had such a great murder mystery within.

I would have liked an abridged edition with all the numerous philosophizing pages removed however.

An amazing reader

So many characters, and the reader brings each one to life as a unique individual. His impressive performance makes me prefer this great book as an audiobook. But here's a hint: since there are so many characters I did find it helpful to go online and print up a list of characters to use as a visual cheat sheet until I got everyone straight, since with audiobooks you can't flip backward through the pages to remind yourself.

A perfect match of narrator to author

I believe Dickens to be one of the best writers in human history and Bleak House is one of his greatest works. The earlier reviewer who said that 30 hours is too short is completely correct. The way Dickens weaves such a broad cast of unrelated characters into a perfectly believable final tapestry is endlessly captivating.
Special applause must go to the voice performer, because he is so much more than a 'narrator'. He manages such distinct vocal personalities for each character and is so consistent with them throughout the 30-hour length that you'll swear it's more than a single performer.
I can't recommend this version of a great book highly enough and I, too, will be looking for more titles performed by Mr. Whitfield.

Wonderful Wonderful Wonderful

Not only is this a wonderful story, being Dickens how could it be any less, but the reader was EXCELLENT!

I will be searching for my next book by reader. He performed Dickens so perfectly!

Excellent all around!

Epic

Dickens’ talent for painting interesting characters while crafting a story with multiple social commentaries is still entertaining and even relevant today. The reader is consistent with voice characters and easy to listen to.
The story is long, and some aspects are dated, but overall a joy to experience.

Excellent reading, excellent performance and outstanding Charles Dickens.

This is a superb version of Charles Dickens adored story "Bleak House". It is hilarious, dramatic, heartbreaking, romantic, thrilling, suspenseful and beautiful... and we loved every second!

Buy it, Listen to it and Enjoy you... you will be all the better for it!

A Lively Version of a Masterpiece

Would you listen to Bleak House again? Why?

Yes, I will listen again. "Bleak House" is one of my favourites. It has a lot to offer. It's probably inexhaustible.

What did you like best about this story?

Dickens' expansive picture of London and English society, the range of characters, the ease of Dickens' writing, though there's a fair amount of repetition and I wondered if he was paid by the word.

Which character – as performed by Simon Vance – was your favorite?

Too hard to answer. Many characters are memorable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Certainly not. It runs for over thirty hours.

Any additional comments?

This is a great work, humane, generous, humorous and full of life. The reading is upbeat and vivid, with a separate voice for almost every character. I haven't come across a novel in English that I like better. .

Dickens at his best

What is not to like, it a classic story told by a man with a quill for a pen, the luxury of the words and the poetic imagery holds you attention through brilliant journey

Best Dickens yet!

I am not going to lie, I love Charles Dickens. I've been working my way through all of his books, re-reading David Copperfield and A Tale of Two Cities along the way. I was intimated by the length of Bleak House, so I put it off. What a mistake! It's a wonderful love story told from (for once) a woman's perspective. It is the most lighthearted Dickens I've read so far, actually FUNNY in places, which is rare. This book is totally worth your time to listen to, atleast once!

Don’t be fooled by the name, bleak House is amazing!

Was convinced to reach when I listened to a podcast and Tyler Cowen said it was one of his five favorite books. It does not disappoint. Bleak house is many things but most of all it’s an astounding portrait of Victorian England, from it’s lowest to it’s highest classes. Amazing characters, great triumphs and tragedy. Every time I read dickens I am reminded that he is a great author and was again when listening to this.