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.

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!

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.