Bleak House

By: Charles Dickens

Narrated by: Sean Barrett, Teresa Gallagher

Length: 35 hrs and 14 mins

Publisher's summary

A complex plot of love and inheritance is set against the English legal system of the mid-19th century. As the case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce drags on, it becomes an obsession to everyone involved. And the issue on an inheritance ultimately becomes a question of murder.

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©2006 Naxos Audiobooks (P)2006 Naxos Audiobooks

Dickens - a Genius

Would you listen to Bleak House again? Why?

I am actually listening to it again and again, sampling some of my favorite chapters. Now that I understand the plot and the story, it is a thrill to go back and see how carefully strands were woven together and how masterly the descriptions and social commentary.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I had many favorite characters, among them, Guppy, Krook, and George.

Have you listened to any of Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

This is my first one. I'd like to hear more.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I wanted it to last as long as possible, so I lingered.. but it was gripping and a real "page turner".

Any additional comments?

I'm going to get more Dickens!

one of the best audiobooks available on audible

the text, of course, is classic; the virtuoso use of language adept to the point of wonder, the satire excoriating, the wit alternately light and scathing, the plot victorian, the lapses of sentimentality cloying

and the performances - you can’t just call this kind of voice acting ‘reading’ - completely do it justice: gallagher is spot on as esther summerson, the most complete of victorian heroines, and barrett is nothing less than brilliant; superb in narration, and inhabiting dickens’ caricatures, whether sympathetic or scorching, with a master’s touch

The quintessential book about law..

Simply one of the best books ever written.. and Sean Barrett makes this one of the best audio books ever narrated.

Great reading of a fabulous story

Would you consider the audio edition of Bleak House to be better than the print version?

Not better, but the good performances certainly enhanced and provided an excellent reading of a fantastic story.

Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher – was your favorite?

Teresa Gallagher's performance was lovely. Her voice is so melodic and her children's voices are just lovely. I especially loved Charley. And Sean Barrett was a perfect counterpoint to Ms Gallagher's voice. His dour British accent was exquistely, well, Dickenisian.

Superb narration, long novel

The versatility of the narrators is incredible. They do so many different voices and accents it often fells like there is a full cast. It is probably the best audiobook I've ever heard. The story itself was good, but it was too long and sometimes confusing. I am a Dickens fan, but this novel wasn't as engaging as his others.

Narration brings characters to life

At first the thought of reading a criticism of the legal system in England in the mid 1800s sounds bleak indeed.

I was taken by both of the narrators immediately. Teresa Gallagher made Esther's narrative lively, and Sean Barrett as the omnicient narrative did the same. As with many Dickens novels, "Bleak House" is full of fabulous characters (major and minor), dialogue and a story that twists and turns to its conclusion.

Expect a range of emotion, happiness, gratitude, shame and grief. Dickens' stories are classic and timeless.

Dickens at his best

Excellent performance with easy recognition of the many characters and some truly moving scenes.
Some expectedly extreme characters but by far the majority of the characters portray thoughts and emotions that readers can relate to despite the historical period of the book.

one of the most beautiful Dickens stories ever!

Complex, long, winding, and deep story as I have come to expect from Charles Dickens, but so far this one has been the most heartwarming for me.

Dated but Delightful Dickens

As Bleak House has been on my bucket list for many years I've probably given it more stars because of the satisfaction felt at completion. Cultural changes reduce the impact of the multiple plots for the current reader and the evolution in language adds another level of difficulty. It's tempting to criticize his wordy depictions of everything as excessive but that is what gives us clarity and wonder at circumstances we may not otherwise believe. The performance on this version is excellent and I felt it really enhanced the story yet I needed to occasionally visit a printed version to review a definition or phrase and was then able to better enjoy the splendor of Dicken's words and wit. It was worthwhile work.

Good done in spite of inequity

I understand so much more about the social and political inequities of our day and the undiminished power of compassion to continue to do good in spite of them because of this book.