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Bleak House (Penguin Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Charles Dickens
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Category: Book
List Price: $12.00
Buy Used: $1.89
You Save: $10.11 (84%)
New (50) Used (27) Collectible (2) from $1.89
Rating:  74 reviews
Sales Rank: 71474
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 1088
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5.1 x 2
ISBN: 0141439726
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.8
EAN: 9780141439723
ASIN: 0141439726
Publication Date: April 29, 2003
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: clean, tight, and unmarked / a little shopworn
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| Also Available In:
| • | Paperback - Bleak House (Rinehart e.) | | • | Audio Download - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (Penguin Popular Classics) | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House (Penguin Classics) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Hardcover - Bleak House (New Oxford Illustrated Dickens) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (World's Classics) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (Oxford World's Classics) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (A Pan classic) | | • | Unknown Binding - Bleak House: An authoritative and annotated text, illustrations, a note on the text, genesis and composition, backgrounds, criticism (A Norton critical edition) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House: An Authoritative and Annotated Text, Illustrations, a Note on the Text, Genesis and Composition, Backgrounds, Criticism (A Norton) | | • | Hardcover - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (Heinemann Guided Readers Series) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (Signet Classic) | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (Dickens Collection) | | • | Mass Market Paperback - Bleak House (Bantam Classics) | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House (BBC Radio Collection) | | • | Hardcover - Bleak House | | • | Hardcover - Bleak House (Everyman's Library (Cloth)) | | • | Unknown Binding - Bleak House (The Crowell critical library) | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House (Part 1) | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House (Part 2) | | • | Library Binding - Bleak House (Penguin English Library) | | • | Hardcover - Bleak House | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House (Ultimate Classics) | | • | CD-ROM - Bleak House | | • | Hardcover - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (Wordsworth Classics) (Wordsworth Classics) | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House (Cover to Cover Audio Books) | | • | Audio Cassette - Bleak House | | • | Audio Download - Bleak House (Unabridged) | | • | Audio Download - Bleak House (Unabridged) | | • | Kindle Edition - Bleak House | | • | Audio Download - Bleak House | | • | Kindle Edition - Bleak House | | • | Audio Download - Bleak House (Unabridged) | | • | Audio Download - Bleak House | | • | Paperback - Bleak House (English Library) |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Review
Bleak House is a satirical look at the Byzantine legal system in London as it consumes the minds and talents of the greedy and nearly destroys the lives of innocents--a contemporary tale indeed. Dickens's tale takes us from the foggy dank streets of London and the maze of the Inns of Court to the peaceful countryside of England. Likewise, the characters run from murderous villains to virtuous girls, from a devoted lover to a "fallen woman," all of whom are affected by a legal suit in which there will, of course, be no winner. The first-person narrative related by the orphan Esther is particularly sweet. The articulate reading by the acclaimed British actor Paul Scofield, whose distinctive broad English accent lends just the right degree of sonority and humor to the text, brings out the color in this classic social commentary disguised as a Victorian drama. However, to abridge Dickens is, well, a Dickensian task, the results of which make for a story in which the author's convoluted plot lines and twists of fate play out in what seems to be a fast-forward format. Listeners must pay close attention in order to keep up with the multiple narratives and cast of curious characters, including the memorable Inspector Bucket and Mr. Guppy. Fortunately, the publisher provides a partial list of characters on the inside jacket. (Running time: 3 hours; 2 cassettes)
Product Description
Edited with an Introduction and Notes by Nicola Bradbury.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 69 more reviews...
 A Masterpiece or Simply Too Long and Wanders Too Much? June 1, 2008
5 out of 7 found this review helpful
The Introduction by Bradbury in the Penguin version, which I would suggest not looking at until you read the novel, agrees with my point: the novel lacks focus and wanders with too many sub-plots. Bradbury calls it "competing plots." So, that point of view is not my imagination nor a unique perspective on Bleak House. This is a very slow moving 1000 page novel which is unlike any of Dickens's other works, i.e.: most of his novels are more entertaining than Bleak House. In fact, it takes 500 pages to get some direction in the story, and there is little in the way of action or suspense until beyond page 600.
Part of the problem is the protagonist, Esther Summerson, who has the potential to be an important character in the book, but (mostly) she is detached from the primary action, and is one of the narrators.
In Bleak House, Dickens tries to weave two or three social issues with a series of plots or sub-plots. Overall, it is a bit of a disappointment and is not his best effort. Clearly the writing is good, but the characters are not as interesting as some of his other novels and there is not much action. Some critics hail the work as his best, but I found it a bit dull: the plot is too diffuse, the story wanders, the characters lack colour and intensity, and the level of the suspense and mystery is low. The second half of the book is better than the first, which is almost a disaster, and the last 300 pages or so is the best part of the book and tends to save the book.
Bleak House falls short in entertaining the reader compared to Oliver Twist, Nicholas Nickleby, David Copperfield, and Great Expectations. Those novels are compelling reads, and Bleak House is not. However, Bleak House is a complicated and well written 5 star novel.
I bought the Penguin Classic version and recommend that purchase highly. As background information, I am in the process of reading most of Dickens's 22 novels and longer short stories, and set up a Listmania list. As a suggestion, avoid the Penguin Popular Classics with the plain green covers (I bought two). They fall apart and do not stand up to a read, especially books over 500 pages in length. The Regular Penguin Classics with the photo or painting on the front are excellent and some have maps and illustrations (drawings). The Wordsworth Classics are not as good, and some are illustrated.
Having read many of Dickens's novels I still rate David Copperfield and Nicholas Nickleby as the best two and rate Oliver Twist and Great Expectations as close seconds behind Copperfield - and these four books are must reads. Bleak House is optional and does not follow the basic Dickens formula - where the protagonist is central to the plot.
 Hard to get into October 4, 2007
1 out of 11 found this review helpful
This dose of English culture was recommended to me as one of the finest in classic literature. Mysteriously the story moves along quite well, even with the aggravating English dialect, the multitude of characters, and the uninteresting, almost banal style.
We return to the simple life when the word gay meant joyous, not the corrupted word it is now. Written in first and third person, this drawn out, hard to follow telling of a lawsuit over an estate inheritance was a struggle to get through (contradicts "moves along quite well"?..................no). Any climactic moments are few and slowed, with subtle impact. Of course it would not be what it is if it was shortened----all 900 pages.
What brings such praise for this book over the years?: the eloquent and sometimes quotable passages are spotty; the only power I see is the improvement it may give to our writing, and that may be its only praise. There are a plethora of outstanding authors with more interesting stories without going through the pain of the "intellectual classics". I am not to say we are to rid them; it is more likely that Bleak House just left much to be desired. Who knows, maybe it has effected me in ways I will only discover later, for that is probably its mystique.
I expected the afterward to summarize my ineptness of understanding this difficult read. Instead it concentrated on the authors greatness and the resources used.
Wish you well
Scott
An ironic title, to be so lovely September 9, 2007
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I, too, leave it to better reviewers to describe it in detail... but I feel that something must be said about these characters. They are ideal, yet complex enough to be real, all of them, in their kindness and intensity, their darkness and meanness, alike. They are absolutely more interesting than any people today... it makes you wonder if people were ever so thoughtful and contemplative - if we have lost something, or rather if Dickens was imaginative and wonderful beyond his experiences could have ever shown! A wonderful book told with care and modesty by two of the best narrators I've ever read.
 Artfully crafted story from Dickens, but takes patience June 12, 2007
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
There are several subplots rummaging throughout Dickens' lengthy Victorian novel Bleak House: 1) the mystery behind Esther Summerson's disgraceful birth and her subsequent arrival at Bleak House, 2) John Jarndyce's fatherly influence over Esther, Ada and Richard, and its eventual effects on the three, 3) Lady Dedlock's mysterious persona, and the secrets she keeps within herself and 4) the general seemingly never-ending process of the Jarndyce suit in the High Court of Chancery, its ill-effects on those who have an interminable will to prosper off of it, and the general dreary feeling it casts over the whole of society.
One of the interesting and yet sometimes tedious aspect of this work, and something to get used to while reading, is the various narrative voices used by Dickens. This can make the work a challenge to read, but helps to give the story a "series" or "drama" feel to it. Esther Summerson, the protagonist, narrates throughout the book at various times, and comes across fairly enough as a reliable narrator. The other two points of view are a bit more anonymous. One type has an element of stream of consciousness, where the narrator takes you quickly through random thoughts, observances and lists of various characters. In this point of view where Dickens attains the greatest amount of satire to this work, and usually makes the entire Jarndyce and Jarndyce case the butt of his joke, as well as the general scenes of the eccentric characters (and there are plenty). The final narrative type is clearly 3rd person, who simply tells the story looking down upon it without any bias or angle, almost a "fly on the wall" kind of perspective, and this voice seems to be used most throughout the novel.
Dickens employs many memorable and eccentric characters as usual. There is Tulkinghorn, a malicious, unmoved, and unsentimental lawyer, the antagonist who holds key secrets and has no pity for individuals. There is Guppy, who is awkward, a bit "slimy", and has a fascination with Esther that lasts throughout the novel. Allan Woodcourt and Captain George are both noble characters who help others in times of need, Woodcourt having ties to saving people's lives during a shipwreck and also is Richard's friend in his time of financial difficulties, and George aiding in the help of the sick child, Jo. Mr. Bucket is the quick-witted detective, who solves many of the mysteries late in the novel.
The neat aspect of Dickens' book is his ability to introduce many characters, many plot lines, symbols and then weave them together into a tight fit, and intertwine and solve them at the end. Esther learns more and more about her past, and the history of her mother, as the novel progresses, and this seemingly brings into the forefront other scenes which at first may have seemed unimportant. Over all this is a novel which essentially depicts one journey, but uses many characters to arrive there; Esther's journey is one in which she learns who she is, and becomes a stronger character by novel's end.
You can definitely say that in Dickens work, the sum is much greater than its parts. This is a book that adds up to much in its finality, and it is clear that Dickens was writing this in a series format, ending chapters right where we are getting to important information or something that is pertinent to the over all story, leaving the mystery to be carried over to the next chapter.
Although this book is a beast (over 800 pages), if you enjoy Victorian novels, and enjoy Dickens use of satire and eccentric characters, this is one well-worth checking out. While this novel sometimes gets cumbersome with details, it really is a tribute to Dickens ability to illustrate this story and weave everything finely together. Like a painting, Bleak House must be viewed at several different angles before one can truly appreciate it.
4 1/2 stars
(This review refers to the Bantum Classic version of the novel)
The not so Bleak House May 30, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I purchased Bleak House after watching the PBS series recently. Having familiarity with only A Christmas Carol, I was eager to read such an engrossing, complex, but very entertaining story. Dickens' characters are gems, and the atmosphere of mid-19th century London are captured so beautifully. I recommend this title to anyone with the patience to savor the language, characters, and social criticism found in Bleak House.
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