Bleak HouseWidely regarded as Dickens’s masterpiece, Bleak House centers on the generations-long lawsuit Jarndyce and Jarndyce, through which “whole families have inherited legendary hatreds.” Focusing on Esther Summerson, a ward of John Jarndyce, the novel traces Esther’s romantic coming-of-age and, in classic Dickensian style, the gradual revelation of long-buried secrets, all set against the foggy backdrop of the Court of Chancery. Mixing romance, mystery, comedy, and satire, Bleak House limns the suffering caused by the intricate inefficiency of the law. The text of this Modern Library Paperback Classic was set from the first single-volume edition, published by Bradbury & Evans in 1853, and reproduces thirty-nine of H. K. Browne’s original illustrations for the book. |
Contents
AProgress CHAPTER IV Telescopic Philanthropy CHAPTER V AMorning Adventure CHAPTER VI Quite atHome | |
The Ghosts Walk | |
Covering aMultitude of Sins CHAPTER IXSigns and Tokens | |
CHAPTER X TheLawWriter CHAPTER XI Our Dear Brother | |
CHAPTERXXXVIII AStruggle CHAPTER XXXIX Attorney andClient CHAPTER XL National andDomestic | |
InMr Tulkinghorns Room CHAPTER XLII InMr Tulkinghorns Chambers CHAPTER XLIII Esthers Narrative | |
The Letter and the Answer | |
In Trust CHAPTER XLVI Stop Him CHAPTER XLVII Jos Will | |
CHAPTERXLVIII Closing | |
CHAPTERXLIX Dutiful Friendship | |
CHAPTER LEsthers Narrative | |
CHAPTER LIEnlightened | |
On the Watch | |
Esthers Narrative CHAPTER XIV Deportment CHAPTER XV BellYard | |
TomallAlones | |
EsthersNarrative | |
Lady Dedlock | |
CHAPTERXIX Moving | |
ANew Lodger CHAPTER XXI The Smallweed Family | |
Mr Bucket | |
Esthers Narrative CHAPTER XXIV An Appeal Case CHAPTER XXV Mrs Snagsby Sees It All CHAPTER XXVI Sharpshooters CHAPTER XXVII ... | |
CHAPTERXXXI Nurseand Patient CHAPTER XXXII The Appointed Time | |
Interlopers CHAPTER XXXIV ATurn of the Screw CHAPTER XXXV Esthers Narrative CHAPTER XXXVI Chesney Wold CHAPTERXXXVII Jarn... | |
Obstinacy | |
The Track | |
Springing a Mine CHAPTER LV Flight CHAPTER LVI Pursuit | |
Esthers Narrative | |
AWintry Dayand Night CHAPTER LIX Esthers Narrative CHAPTER LX Perspective CHAPTER LXIADiscovery CHAPTER LXII Another Discove... | |
Steel andIron | |
Esthers Narrative | |
AFTERWORD | |
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY | |
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Common terms and phrases
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