Bleak House cover art

Bleak House

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About this listen

Penguin Classics presents Charles Dickens' epic Bleak House, adapted for downloadable audiobook and read by Ronald Pickup and Beatnie Edney.

As the interminable case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce grinds its way through the Court of Chancery, it draws together a disparate group of people: Ada and Richard Clare, whose inheritance is gradually being devoured by legal costs; Esther Summerson, a ward of court, whose parentage is a source of deepening mystery; the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn; the determined sleuth Inspector Bucket; and even Jo, the destitute little crossing-sweeper. A savage, but often comic, indictment of a society that is rotten to the core, Bleak House is one of Dickens's most ambitious novels, with a range that extends from the drawing rooms of the aristocracy to the poorest of London slums.

Part of a series of abridged, vintage recordings taken from the Penguin Archives.

Affordable, collectable, quality productions - perfect for on-the-go listening.

 Classics Coming of Age Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Fiction
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I had watched Bleak house on the television and wanted to read the book to get more from the story but really struggled to read it. I downloaded the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed it and went onto read the book after, I find listening first helped me get into the style of writing more easily.

Brilliant Dickens

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I used to have this on CD for the car, and it was the perfect companion for the November commute.
Some may not like the dual narrations and it does take a little getting used to, but overall I think it works.

My Favourite Version

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I loved the narration of this version. Gravelly and british english, as I would hear it if I were reading it myself. Thank you....

Wonderfully read

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I downloaded this version, as it is the penguin version that I need to study for an enl-lit BA. The text of the book is modernised only very slightly. The story is Well read, however, there are great chunks of text missing from the audio, these will need to be read manually.

beware for study

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I only signed up to audible for the free audiobook. But subsequently realised this is heavily abridged. Why would I want less than a fifth of the book? Even for free. Suppose I'll just have to buy a decent version on itunes...

Abridged to 6 hours from 39 - what's the point?

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