Bleak House (version 4)
Charles Dickens
Play
Length 34 h 5 min
Chapters 67
First published 1853
Bleak house is one of Dickens finest achievements. It was written for serialisation in 1853 when Dickens was at the peak of his career. Monthly sales substantially exceeded his previous bestseller David Copperfield. Dickens' mastery of the English language comes to the fore in this book. It is an energetic book: a complex mystery story revolving around the heroine Esther Summerson and her path from childhood to marriage. During the course of Esther’s narration Dickens introduces some wonderful and unforgettable characters, and at the same time provides a searing indictment of the laws’ corruption and self-serving interests which prevailed during that time. He pokes fun at the languid and landed aristocracy and questions the societal indifference to the poor. Detection, black comedy, farce, and tragic ruin run through the story. Critics at the time were unenthusiastic but the public were enthralled by it! - Summary by Peter John Keeble
Chapters
1
Preface Read by Peter John Keeble 5:47
2
In Fashion Read by Peter John Keeble 18:09
3
A Progress Read by Peter John Keeble 44:33
4
Telescopic Philanthropy Read by Peter John Keeble 28:00
5
A Morning Adventure Read by Peter John Keeble 32:19
6
Quite at Home Read by Peter John Keeble 49:56
7
The Ghost's Walk Read by Peter John Keeble 24:59
8
Covering a Multitude of Sins Read by Peter John Keeble 46:48
9
Signs and Tokens Read by Peter John Keeble 34:25
10
The Law-Writer Read by Peter John Keeble 26:22
11
Our Dear Brother Read by Peter John Keeble 34:14
12
On the Watch Read by Peter John Keeble 34:15
13
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 34:29
14
Deportment Read by Peter John Keeble 47:51
15
Bell Yard Read by Peter John Keeble 33:47
16
Tom-all-Alone's Read by Peter John Keeble 21:10
17
Esthers Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 32:02
18
Lady Dedlock Read by Peter John Keeble 39:06
19
Moving On Read by Peter John Keeble 32:16
20
A New Lodger Read by Peter John Keeble 33:31
21
The Smallweed Family Read by Peter John Keeble 40:19
22
Mr Bucket Read by Peter John Keeble 30:06
23
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 42:10
24
An Appeal Case Read by Peter John Keeble 40:34
25
Mrs Snagsby Sees It All Read by Peter John Keeble 21:46
26
Sharpshooters Read by Peter John Keeble 29:40
27
More Old Soldiers Than One Read by Peter John Keeble 29:26
28
The Ironmaster Read by Peter John Keeble 27:36
29
The Young Man Read by Peter John Keeble 22:36
30
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 37:16
31
Nurse and Patient Read by Peter John Keeble 35:28
32
The Appointed Time Read by Peter John Keeble 31:12
33
Interlopers Read by Peter John Keeble 34:55
34
A Turn of the Screw Read by Peter John Keeble 35:48
35
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 35:12
36
Chesney Wold Read by Peter John Keeble 37:48
37
Jarndyce and Jarndyce Read by Peter John Keeble 43:14
38
A Struggle Read by Peter John Keeble 23:56
39
Attorney and Client Read by Peter John Keeble 39:58
40
National and Domestic Read by Peter John Keeble 28:59
41
In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Room Read by Peter John Keeble 20:47
42
In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Chambers Read by Peter John Keeble 17:26
43
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 36:16
44
The Letter and the Answer Read by Peter John Keeble 15:41
45
In Trust Read by Peter John Keeble 30:03
46
Stop Him! Read by Peter John Keeble 19:31
47
Jo's Will Read by Peter John Keeble 32:23
48
Closing In Read by Peter John Keeble 38:00
49
Dutiful Friendship Read by Peter John Keeble 31:55
50
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 22:44
51
Enlightened Read by Peter John Keeble 25:57
52
Obstinacy Read by Peter John Keeble 24:16
53
The Track Read by Peter John Keeble 27:03
54
Springing a Mine Read by Peter John Keeble 48:28
55
Flight Read by Peter John Keeble 36:41
56
Pursuit Read by Peter John Keeble 19:35
57
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 40:31
58
A Wintry Day and Night Read by Peter John Keeble 33:46
59
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 29:56
60
Perspective Read by Peter John Keeble 29:21
61
A Discovery Read by Peter John Keeble 24:35
62
Another Discovery Read by Peter John Keeble 20:17
63
Steel and Iron Read by Peter John Keeble 17:47
64
Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 25:29
65
Beginning the World LXVI. Read by Peter John Keeble 16:08
66
Down in Lincolnshire LXVII. Read by Peter John Keeble 11:13
67
The Close of Esther's Narrative Read by Peter John Keeble 9:53
From LibriVox, read by volunteers and in the public domain. LibriVox page (opens librivox.org) , the text (opens gutenberg.org) , all files on the Internet Archive (opens archive.org) .
