Bleak House

5b, FIrst Edition, by Charles Dickens, London: Bradbury & Evans 1853

Notes

Bleak House, a novel by Charles Dickens, is a complex and richly detailed exploration of the British legal system and its impact on society. Published in 1852-1853, the story revolves around the protracted case of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce, a legal dispute over a contested will that entangles many characters in its bureaucratic web. Through a dual narrative—half told by the orphan Esther Summerson and half by an omniscient narrator—Dickens weaves a tapestry of diverse characters and plotlines. The novel critiques the inefficiency and corruption of the Court of Chancery while also delving into themes of social injustice, class disparity, and the moral consequences of unchecked ambition.

Description

Black 3/4 textured binding, five raised spines, gold tooling