Bleak House

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Sean Barrett, Teresa Gallagher

Length: 35 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A complex plot of love and inheritance is set against the English legal system of the mid-19th century. As the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, it becomes an obsession to everyone involved. And the issue on an inheritance ultimately becomes a question of murder.

Download the accompanying reference guide.

©2006 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2006 Naxos Audiobooks

Excellent production, but yes, it is long

Bleak House is considered one of Dickens’ best, and I can understand why. The story is truly epic, the characterization is, as it always is with Dickens, delightful, and his language is at its most eloquent, which is saying a lot. That said, it is long. I’m glad I listened to it, but I admit there were times were I had to discipline myself to stay with it. The serial nature of his writing can be a bit overwhelming for us, who aren’t reading it in periodicals. Originally, reading Dickens was like watching a weekly or monthly television show over the course of a year. For us, it’s like binge watching a really long series.

The production was very good. Sean Barrett does an outstanding job with voices. However, when it isn’t dialogue and he’s reading the descriptive narrative, his reading voice is very low, and because the prose can be pretty dense, it had the effect of making me sleepy. I would have preferred a livelier reading voice at these times, but he more than makes up for it with his character voices. Teresa Gallagher is the opposite. She had less dialogue and shines with the descriptive prose. She’s excellent. Her voices aren’t as good as Barrett’s, but not bad.

This is a very good audible book, but my favorite Audible book of the 25 or so that I’ve listened to is the Richard Armitage version of David Copperfield.

Great entertainment.

Narrators were wonderful. The story was riveting and al the characters were so well developed. I enjoyed every word.

Rich, fascinating story with strong narrators

I am so glad I finally listened to "Bleak House." I loved every minute of the story. While so complicated, like all Dickens, the pay-off at the end makes it worth it.

Esther Summersen is such a complex, interesting character (although I'd expect some people don't like her as she's too perfect or good, I'd disagree with that assessment though). I loved Teresa Gallagher's voice for Esther!

Sean Barrett is also a great choice, although his voice and narration took me some time to appreciate and be able to enjoy. Once I did, I was glad I stuck with it.

I was worried I'd be listening to this for a long time, but I whipped through it as I loved the story and this adaptation of it. Highly suggest!!!

My Favorite Dickens

Thoroughly enjoyable book and narration. One of Dickens’ best. Will definitely read/listen again and again.

I know this is a classic, but I couldn't finish.

Sometimes I'm okay with the pacing of classics like this one. Sometimes I'm not. And I just could get into the young characters or their problems. Maybe I'm getting too crusty...

This book was apparently the prototype for all subsequent whodunnits and I really loved another Dickens novel, so I was generous with the overall and story stars. The narration was really excellent, btw.

Incredible storytelling; fantastic narration!

I've wanted to read Bleak House for a long time, but the fact that it's about a legal case put me off. I should've trusted Dickens's story telling talents: what a remarkable story! What memorable characters! Once again, Dickens's support for every day people and their struggles as well as his social conscience add energy and vision to an incredible tapestry of characters and plot. Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher are perfect narrators. I was enthralled for the 35 hours--and that's saying something! The only quibbles are my usual issue with the saintly female persona that Dickens sometimes creates (Dora in David Copperfield, for example): Esther gets perilously close to that by the end, but her long-suffering is balanced out by the profusion of wonderful other women, including independent businesswoman Caddy Jellaby and Miss Flyte. Also, I had to re-download this to get it to play on my ipod, as it didn't automatically come in three sections, which was an unexpected hitch resolved by Audible's support. Anyway: I can see, again, why Dickens was a Victorian literary rock star. Wow.

A great version of this classic tale

What did you love best about Bleak House?

The two narrators worked really well. It really felt like reading the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Bleak House?

Dickens always has such varied and interesting characters. This book is particularly filled with them.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where Esther and Mr. Bucket chase after Lady Dedlock was very exciting, and ultimately sad.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

What a wonderful man John Jandyce is, but some of the characters take advantage of them.

Any additional comments?

I would say that this is an excellent version of Bleak House, and I would highly recommend it.

A meandering trip through Dickens’ London

Bleak House is a very rich and convoluted story. I first began reading it in a book and found that it was sometimes difficult to work through as there are so many characters and tales to keep track of. Once I began listening to the audio book I found it difficult to “put down”. The readings by Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher are absolutely wonderful. They bring this classic to life in such a big way. They are easy to listen to, they give each character their own dynamic personality and really brighten up a text that can be difficult, at times, to navigate. I absolutely recommend this audio book. I cant wait to listen to it again.

classics are classics for good reason

Lovely to experience an old book in a ,,new form. Simple enjoyment with an old friend is this sparkling performance that mace me realize again what a genius chickens can be.

Yes!

Great in all respects. One disappointment is that the last words of the book have been cut out!