79 pages • 2 hours read
Bleak House
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
1017
Novel • Fiction
London • 19th century
1853
Adult
18+ years
660L
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.
Mysterious
Melancholic
Dark
Gritty
Contemplative
Reviews & Readership
115,630 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
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 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.
115,630 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
1017
Novel • Fiction
London • 19th century
1853
Adult
18+ years
660L
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.