Bleak House

[ELVIS68]

Can somebody please give me a brief outline of the story, many thanks

[jno]

Bleak House is one of Dicken’s longest and most complex novels. It contains many different and divergent storylines that intertwine as characters meet by chance or fate. In that sense it is impossible to summarise, though key themes run through it: the foremost of these being the absurdity of legal proceedings that seem to have no purpose but to line the pockets of lawyers. The case of ‘Jardyce and Jarndyce’ is the key example here. The wards of court in the case are the children Richard Carstone and Ada Clare who live with their relative, the philanthropic John Jarndyce. Initially the novel concerns their love for each other. The novel’s heroine is Esther Summerson, an orphan, who also goes to live with Jarndyce, and narrates much of the novel. Other strands of the book concern Sir Leicester Dedlock and his beautiful wife who hides a shocking secret about an illegitimate child and a long lost love. The machinations of her search for the latter bring her to the penniless and illiterate Jo and a grave where she will later die in terrible circumstances brought about by the pursuit of her old lover. The mystery of the death of old lawyer Tulkinghorn brings us another strand with the detective Bucket intervening in one of the novel’s many highlights. Esther and John Jarndyce’s relationship is at the heart of the later stages of the book, and his finally act of generosity in giving her up to the young doctor Woodcourt who she loves. In between there are numerous interesting or plain hilarious minor characters such as the ridiculous Mrs Jellyby whose endless philanthropy have left her utterly unconcerned about her family and Harold Skimpole who is a lazy and selfish man looked after by others’ generosity and his mimicry of childish irresponsibility. (from www.bibliomania.com)

[ELVIS68]

jno..Mrs Elvis says thank you very much,and perhaps now she will realise that this site is not a seedy chatroom after all,

[dothawkes]

I did this for GCSE and even though that was many years ago, I remember there was a great deal of reference to Class. But if you are just watching it as entertainment then a close reading of the text would not be essential.

[ELVIS68]

dot, Mrs Elvis says are you stalking me?

[RogK]

Last night's 1st episode on BBC1 was a complete triumph, imo. Can't wait for no. 2 tonight.