Bleak House

Publisher's Summary

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.

A story that stands the test of time beautifully read

One of Dickens's best novels - so timely and timeless both. The narrator is superb. Each character - and there are dozens of them - distinctly rendered in accent and tone. I was sorry to leave these wonderful characters.

16 of 16 people found this review helpful

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.

13 of 13 people found this review helpful

Brilliant

This book is brilliantly written. I can see why some say its Dickens best. Truly a masterpiece.

9 of 9 people found this review helpful

Satirical, poignant, Dickens at his best!

I had low expectations of this book and was admittedly daunted by its size. Let me now say, it could be my favorite Dickens novel -- and it was worth every minute I invested in listening to it. The narrator was simply outstanding and the novel was absolutely brimming over with plot -- suspense, murder, mystery, romance, love, devotion, death, tragedy, treachery, humor, and of course, biting satire. There were scenes that made me laugh out loud and scenes that actually made me cry. There were countless unforgettable characters and some of the most touching relationships and dialogue I have ever read. For anyone who loves Dickens, this is vintage -- and the narration was simply perfect. Highly recommended!

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Can't go wrong

This reader brings the myriad characters/narrators in Bleak House to life. His rendering of their distinctive accents and intonations helps the listener follow the book's twists and turns of structure and plot.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Variable sound level

From screaming lines to whispers. Volume leveling would have worked wonders to help the listener through the book. Good book and reader was good at acting each part but could not understand some words due to volume levels. I have the enhanced audio version so quality was highest.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

five stars for Hugh Dickson's narration

Hugh Dickson's voice is so versatile. How he keeps the voice of each character, including every minor character straight is miracle. But each character shines through uniquely...

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Excellent narration

Hugh Dickson does a fabulous job narrating this Dickens classic. Although I've read the book before, I picked up some additional nuances when listening to this audio version.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

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!!!!!!!

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

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.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Bleak House far from bleak

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is beautifully read and I would love to hear more books by this narrator. The story is long and very convoluted, but Dickens has such a wry sense of humour and the subject matter is still so pertinent that it is well worth investing the time.

12 of 12 people found this review helpful

Really worth it!

A fantastic book to listen to. The narrator is amazing and his range of voices made the listen even more enjoyable.

There is both sadness and joy in this book and story lines that keep you gripped. Although it is very long it really is worth it!

8 of 8 people found this review helpful

Sheer enjoyment

This a beautiful book - Dickens at his wittiest and most ironic. The narrator Hugh Dickson is brilliant and the book came alive with his acutely drawn characterisations. Some of the descriptive passages came close to poetry in his interpretation.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Very well written, very well read.

Fog everywhere. Fog up the river, where it flows among green aits and meadows; fog down the river, where it rolls defiled among the tiers of shipping and the waterside pollutions of a great (and dirty) city. Fog on the Essex marshes, fog on the Kentish heights. Fog creeping into the cabooses of collier-brigs; fog lying out on the yards and hovering in the rigging of great ships; fog drooping on the gunwales of barges and small boats. Fog in the eyes and throats of ancient Greenwich pensioners, wheezing by the firesides of their wards; fog in the stem and bowl of the afternoon pipe of the wrathful skipper, down in his close cabin; ...

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Bleak House opens with the above paragraph, one of the most beautiful passages in all of Dickens. Give yourself a treat and click the sample on Hugh Dickson's reading of this classic which includes the above.

Mr Dickson's diction (ho) is perfect. His narration is a joy, his voicing of the characters is a top quality piece of acting, and makes the production feel more a play than a book. Of course Dickens deserves some credit along the way but Mr Dickson's rendering of Jo - 'I don't know nothink about nothink at all' - is comic genius. Ditto his voicing of George, Grandfather Smallweed, and one of Dickens' most under-appreciated comic characters, the tenacious Inspector Bucket of The Detective. There is some real acting going on here.

The book, regarded as one of Dickens finest, does not need much in the way of critiquing from me. A full-frontal assault on The Chancery, numerous plots and subplots, wrapped up with Dickens usual melange of characters vile, humorous, decent, bathetic, pathetic, impoverished, grand, (and the not so grand), devilish and angelic.

The highlight for me - the last page of chapter 47 (no spoilers here) beautifully written, and beautifully read.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A genuine gem

A brilliant novel brought to life with astonishing vividness and humour by Hugh Dickson. I cannot recommend this audiobook highly enough.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

Superbly characterised and read.

This is a long book 37 hours in all but I have read it while driving to work over the last month and have found myself at times sitting in the driveway having got home and not wanting to leave the car until I found out the next little snippet.
The book is really well written with plenty of little twists and turns to keep you guessing and the characters are brilliantly dramatized by Hugh.
If long stories are your bag and you like stories of a dickens style then I couldn't not recommend this highly enough.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

An enchanting audio experience

This is a superb reading by Hugh Dickson. The character portrayal is staggeringly good, the dramatic passages are full of excitement and the emotion is sensitively expressed. I cannot praise this reading highly enough. It should not be missed.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A Great Listen

Even (make it specially) if you've read this a few times, it's worth listening to this version. Hugh Dickson does an amazing job.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Outstanding

A truly fantastic reading, Mr Dickson is superb at bringing the characters and narrative to life. I wish that all audios were so well read.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

A work of art

Whether you are a fan of Dickens or not the narrator of this audiobook really brings the story to life. His characterisations are amazing - almost like listening to a play with a cast of many. The story is in true Dickensian style, beautifully written, detailed, gentle and with eccentric characters and a gently winding plot.Truly excellent.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful