Wordsworth Editions Bleak House

Quite a hefty book to read comfortably (in bed for example) being a good deal over 700 pages. It has an air of authority with a useful index of contemporary references which help very much to put the work into historical context. I bought it having enjoyed the BBC series and visualise all the characters while reading the book.I originally bought a well reviewed version on my Kindle but was very disappointed with 'updated' terminology presumably to help the modern reader. This edition is perfect; I've also enjoyed the illustrations although Charles Dance's Mr Tulkinghorn is not the same as the sketched character.

I enjoyed reading this story. The plot is complicated but I was able to follow it fairly easily because I had previously seen one of the BBC dramatisations of the book. There were some amusing, eccentric characters such as Mr Guppy's mother and old Mr Turveydrop. Other characters, such as John Jarndyce, seemed almost too altruistic to be real. Some high-brow academics may enjoy trying to spot all sorts of analogies and cross-links and hidden meanings in Dickens' mind as he wrote, but if you just read the book on the surface level it is absorbing and worthwhile. I didn't give it 5 stars because Dickens' literary style was not as nimble and drole in this book as it was in, say, Barnaby Rudge. Overall it's a good story and this Wordsworth edition is very good value.

It sounds a bit ridiculous but this book is really dated! I haven't read any Dickens since my school days, and Bleak House is generally rated as his best novel so I thought I'd give it a go. After struggling through the first section setting the scene for the court case, I thought it would get better when we met some of the characters but the sensibilities are so different it was hard to tell why the apparently comedic characters were funny. One character who is clearly a massive sponger was supposed to be charming and entertaining. I gave up.

Bleak House was the novel that started my love of Dickens. It's so rich and varied, with many superb characters without the stereotyping which blights some of Dickens' other work (I.e. Fagin in Oliver Twist). The opening chapter is truly iconic and I chose the "fog, fog everywhere" section as my choice of reading at a 200th anniversary Dickens celebration at university.I don't believe in discussing in depth the plot as I feel that more people view reviews with a view to buying the book rather than after reading, but Bleak House is a complex work of genius, a true literary classic and one of the finest works of the (in my opinion) golden generation of Victorian fiction. This is a work of a great writer at his peak, unafraid to attack the very society that provided Dickens with the colourful and varied tapestry he so effectively uses throughout his great novels. I am not however blind to Dickens' faliures. I'm not a fan of some of his works (I won't say which because these books I dislike have many advocates and fans, each to their own), but I love Bleak House.My first reading of Bleak House was within one of these inexpensive Wordsworth editions. When I was at school we were forced to endure the earlier Wordsworths which would fall apart if you so much as looked at them. Nowadays I'm pleased to report that the quality has been improved markedly at no detriment to the price. This is a great edition for students or curious readers alike. I urge anyone on their next book splurge to invest a couple of pounds into a cheap Dickens if they've not read him before or for a long time. It just might start something wonderful for you, a journey into a canon of literature unsurpassed in quality.Please don't be daunted by the vast tombe of Bleak House. Sometimes the longest reads are the most rewarding and though some effort and time will have to be put in, the digestion of a true classic as good as this feels great. Dive into Bleak House, give it a chance and you might just love it.

Really enjoyable book. 740 pages so takes a while to read. Dickens captures society so well. The characters are still applicable to today's world. Lawyers protecting their own interests through exploiting their clients. Spongers living off the work of others. Individuals dedicating themselves to charitable causes. Individuals quietly getting on with earning their won living. The landed classes trying to protect their interests as they begin to come to terms with the changes facing society. Really good read.