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79 pages 2 hours read

Charles Dickens, Hablot Knight Browne, Nicola Bradbury

Bleak House

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1853

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Charles Dickens' novel Bleak House, published between 1852 and 1853, narrates the intertwined tales of several characters, most notably Esther Summerson, amid the backdrop of the prolonged legal case, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, which involves competing wills and numerous beneficiaries. The book explores the lives affected by this chaotic litigation, personal struggles, and hidden pasts. The source material includes references to racism, substance abuse, domestic abuse, and suicide.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Bleak House by Charles Dickens is praised for its intricate plot and vivid characterizations, showcasing Dickens' storytelling prowess. However, some readers find the narrative's complexity and multitude of subplots cumbersome. Its critique of the legal system is lauded, though the pacing can be slow. Overall, it's considered a masterful, if dense, literary work.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Bleak House?

A reader who enjoys Bleak House by Charles Dickens likely appreciates intricate plots, rich character development, and social critiques. This reader might also be a fan of novels like Middlemarch by George Eliot and War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, which offer similar complexity and depth in storytelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

660L