Books / Audiobooks Bleak House (version 4)
by Charles Dickens
Chapter 1 of 68 Preface
0:00
5:47
15 30
Running time 34 h 5 min
Language English
Read by Peter John Keeble
Chapters
0
PrefacePeter John Keeble
5:47
1
In ChanceryPeter John Keeble
16:55
2
In FashionPeter John Keeble
18:09
3
A ProgressPeter John Keeble
44:33
4
Telescopic PhilanthropyPeter John Keeble
28:00
5
A Morning AdventurePeter John Keeble
32:19
6
Quite at HomePeter John Keeble
49:56
7
The Ghost's WalkPeter John Keeble
24:59
8
Covering a Multitude of SinsPeter John Keeble
46:48
9
Signs and TokensPeter John Keeble
34:25
10
The Law-WriterPeter John Keeble
26:22
11
Our Dear BrotherPeter John Keeble
34:14
12
On the WatchPeter John Keeble
34:15
13
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
34:29
14
DeportmentPeter John Keeble
47:51
15
Bell YardPeter John Keeble
33:47
16
Tom-all-Alone'sPeter John Keeble
21:10
17
Esthers NarrativePeter John Keeble
32:02
18
Lady DedlockPeter John Keeble
39:06
19
Moving OnPeter John Keeble
32:16
20
A New LodgerPeter John Keeble
33:31
21
The Smallweed FamilyPeter John Keeble
40:19
22
Mr BucketPeter John Keeble
30:06
23
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
42:10
24
An Appeal CasePeter John Keeble
40:34
25
Mrs Snagsby Sees It AllPeter John Keeble
21:46
26
SharpshootersPeter John Keeble
29:40
27
More Old Soldiers Than OnePeter John Keeble
29:26
28
The IronmasterPeter John Keeble
27:36
29
The Young ManPeter John Keeble
22:36
30
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
37:16
31
Nurse and PatientPeter John Keeble
35:28
32
The Appointed TimePeter John Keeble
31:12
33
InterlopersPeter John Keeble
34:55
34
A Turn of the ScrewPeter John Keeble
35:48
35
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
35:12
36
Chesney WoldPeter John Keeble
37:48
37
Jarndyce and JarndycePeter John Keeble
43:14
38
A StrugglePeter John Keeble
23:56
39
Attorney and ClientPeter John Keeble
39:58
40
National and DomesticPeter John Keeble
28:59
41
In Mr. Tulkinghorn's RoomPeter John Keeble
20:47
42
In Mr. Tulkinghorn's ChambersPeter John Keeble
17:26
43
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
36:16
44
The Letter and the AnswerPeter John Keeble
15:41
45
In TrustPeter John Keeble
30:03
46
Stop Him!Peter John Keeble
19:31
47
Jo's WillPeter John Keeble
32:23
48
Closing InPeter John Keeble
38:00
49
Dutiful FriendshipPeter John Keeble
31:55
50
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
22:44
51
EnlightenedPeter John Keeble
25:57
52
ObstinacyPeter John Keeble
24:16
53
The TrackPeter John Keeble
27:03
54
Springing a MinePeter John Keeble
48:28
55
FlightPeter John Keeble
36:41
56
PursuitPeter John Keeble
19:35
57
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
40:31
58
A Wintry Day and NightPeter John Keeble
33:46
59
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
29:56
60
PerspectivePeter John Keeble
29:21
61
A DiscoveryPeter John Keeble
24:35
62
Another DiscoveryPeter John Keeble
20:17
63
Steel and IronPeter John Keeble
17:47
64
Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
25:29
65
Beginning the World LXVI.Peter John Keeble
16:08
66
Down in Lincolnshire LXVII.Peter John Keeble
11:13
67
The Close of Esther's NarrativePeter John Keeble
9:53
About this recording
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
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