Bleak House

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: David Case

Published in 1853, Bleak House is one of Dickens' most mature and ambitious novels. From London's slums to the Court of Chancery, where the endless case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce devours the future of several generations, the author's canvas of Victorian society vividly conveys an indictment of legal corruption, a riveting tale of detection, and a compelling emotional drama.Not a little Dickens: peruse our full list of Charles Dickens titles.(P)2006 Tantor Media Inc.

Critic reviews

"Vigorous satire....[with] a host of interesting minor characters." (The Concise Oxford Companion to English Literature.)

This is how to read a book!

I am delighted with the narration in my recently purchased "Bleak House" ( David Case). I am amazed how clearly he is able to define the many characters and how perfect is his gentle edge of irony when Dickens makes those telling side comments along the way. Wonderful. A great novel, well presented . Works well along with the BBC video series, which we are re-watching at the same time.

not a bleak listen

Bleak House contains some of the most sentimental melodrama ever written by Dickens. However, unlike most modern novels, Dickens' storytelling and prose, combined with great narration, drew me into the world of the novel and left me wanting more at the end, no matter how incredible the plot coincidences or how larger than life the heroes and villains. I enjoyed every minute of the listen, even the most overly sentimental, drawn-out death scene of one of Dickens' most pathetic characters. I can't explain the power of Dickens (especially Dickens read aloud) to do this; I can only give him and the narrator five stars for it.

Bleak House Love it or Leave it

It's Dickens! The story is a classic. Have a test listen to the narrator first, you're either going to love his accent and attitude or he's going to drive you around the bend. I personally love his dry droll bored upper class condescending narration. I don't think everyone else will though.

Well-read, highly enjoyable!

What a great story - full of twists and turns, and unexpectedly bring all the multitude of characters and their story lines together by the end of the novel. The narrator did a great job with the dual narrative voices, and a very admirable job of giving each character their own, distinctive "voice." Highly recommended for Dickens fans.

The Best Bleak House Ever

David Case is my favorite reader, and surely his Bleak House was a labor of love. Each passage and each voice is so perfectly interpreted that I am convinced he knew this novel well. The complex but fascinating plot is presented clearly by his reading; I understood it better than ever before despite reading Bleak House perhaps twenty times over the decades.

I have yet to hear any reader who could do separate voices, male and female, better or even as well as David Case. His voice for Esther Summerson, the heroine, was perfect, as was the tone of gentle irony he gives her when Mr. Stimpole and Mr. Guppy and other ineffectual villains try to take advantage of her good nature. All his many voices from this novel are perfect, and so distinct they are instantly recognizeable.

Bleak House is a brilliant and charming novel of Dickens, a mystery and a thriller, and my personal favorite. His heroine is, simply, a lifetime model for women, and the reader is left to work out why, since Esther, the narrator, has no such high opinion of herself. The truth in my opinion is that this novel, read by the brilliant David Case, is more accessible in this audiobook version than if you read it from the text.

narrator is brilliant

Don't put this off due to length. I did, and then couldn't believe I had. this is delightful, and David Case does an amazing job!

So good!

What a great story and wonderful adventure to read. This novel is truly Dickens at his best (and his most "Dickens like" if you know what I mean). The book won't let go of you, and at times you actually wonder why it's so fascinating. I'd listen for hours non-stop and be amazed that I'm I so into the story. The reason is that it's simply Dickens as only he can be. It's the equivalent of a modern day soap opera (in a good way... it was originally published in 20 monthly sections, and was written as to keep the reader begging for the next installment.) There are twist and turns and love and death. Each section ends with some twist that leaves you unable not to continue on to the next right away.
The narration is superb. I have listened to numerous Dickens novels, and David Case seems to bring the characters alive better than any other. And that is the most amazing and memorable aspect of Bleak House.... the characters. LOTS of characters, and each developed so fully, with there own history and story lines and mysteries. I was worried going into this book that the vast number of characters would clutter up the novel and confuse the reader, but that was not the case at all. In fact, it does just the opposite, with each character and story line coming alive individually, but working together so well. This is the true genius of Dickens.
I highly recommend this novel and this audio production of it.

Why we still love Dickens after 300 years

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This book has been such a fun read and so cinematic. If Dickens were alive today, he would be a screenwriter. Although there are many chapters that feel like diversions and the plot doesn't really thicken until part 5, I couldn't stop listening because the images are so vivid and the minor characters such a hoot! This reader is perfect for Dickens, and creates distinct voices for this huge cast of characters. My only complaint is that the audio quality isn't up to current standards and sounded a bit tinny.

Dickens done right

This is great fun. One of Dickens' greatest works. I can't imagine anyone reading Dickens better than David Case. The recording is excellent. Snap it up.

Victorian Prolixity

Well, yes -- Dickens does go on, doesn't he? At least by today's standards. The same story written by a modern author would have taken half as many pages and half as many hours. But, if you can suspend your modern standards a bit while you listen to "Bleak House," it will reward your patience. With "Bleak House," Dickens composed a masterpiece of literary fiction, by any standard. For its time -- 1852 -- "Bleak House" ventured into daring territory: for example by having part of the narrative written in the present tense, and part written in the past tense by one of the main characters. It does contain an abundance of characters, which might confuse the listener at first. If you have never before read "Bleak House," I would suggest first watching the excellent B.B.C. 2006 cinematic dramatization (not the 1985 version with Diana Rigg). You might find it at your local library on D.V.D., as I did. This movie simultaneously simplifies Dickens' complex plot, while remaining true to the story, and helps the viewer to sort out the characters. Having first watched this movie helped me a lot when I tackled the audiobook version of "Bleak House." The audiobook's narrator -- David Case -- is a consummate actor, with an abundance of voices and accents to distinguish the characters from one another. I highly recommend this audiobook to anyone with any interest in Victorian England, the legal profession, or Charles Dickens.