Bleak House Audiobook By Charles Dickens cover art

Bleak House

The Audible Dickens Collection

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Bleak House

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Miriam Margolyes
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About this listen

Audie Award, 2019: Literary Fiction and Classics

Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award 2018

This Audible Exclusive performance of Bleak House features a unique introduction written and narrated by Miriam Margolyes.

Recognised as one of Dickens' most accomplished titles, Bleak House has impressed critics and audiences alike since it was first published in 1852. The novel boasts one of the most intelligent and engaging plots in all of English literature and is sure to engage the listener's imagination as it transports us back in time to the seedy, grimy and hazardous streets of Victorian London.

This release is part of the Dickens Collection, an exclusive series of unmissable performances available throughout 2018.

About the audiobook:

At the heart of Bleak House is the longstanding case of Jarndyce v. Jarndyce - a damning portrayal of the 19th century legal system. Dickens shines a light on the impact that overdrawn court proceedings could have on the lives of those involved, specifically through two of his protagonists, Richard Carstone and his beloved Ada Clare.

Dickens' unassuming heroine, Esther Summerson, along with the equally benevolent owner of Bleak House, John Jarndyce, attempts to guide the young lovers, Richard and Ada, to live their lives unaffected by the court proceedings. But with the introduction of some typically Dickensian characters such as Grandfather Smallweed and Mr Tulkinghorn, trouble soon ensues for all who cross their paths.

About the author:

Having experienced the incarceration of his father, Charles Dickens had to abandon his studies at a young age and set to work in a factory so as to support himself. Despite his short-lived education, Dickens went on to write 15 novels, various articles, novellas and short stories. He lectured and led campaigns for children's rights and education and arguably became the ultimate self-made man. Bleak House offers unique insight into the mind-set of a middle-aged Charles Dickens and the exceptional way in which his artistic skill had grown and developed by then.

About the narrator:

Miriam Margolyes is an award-winning stage and screen actress, best known for her roles in The Age of Innocence, Little Dorrit, Sunshine, Cold Comfort Farm and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Her stage credits include The Vagina Monologues, Romeo & Juliet, The Threepenny Opera, The Canterbury Tales and her own one-woman show, Dickens' Woman. Miriam has always been a keen admirer of Charles Dickens and demonstrates a profound understanding of his themes and writing style through her skilful narration of Bleak House.

Public Domain (P)2018 Audible, Ltd
Classics Funny Short Story England
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Critic reviews

"Such a miraculously good new audio version of this great novel is cause for hats in the air.... Margolyes clearly loves this material and brilliantly displays Dickens's genius for plotting, nailing human foibles, and shining light on social cruelties. It's a gobsmacking performance, on a par with Jim Dale's protean work on the Harry Potter novels. Ms. Margolyes contains multitudes." (AudioFile)

What listeners say about Bleak House

Highly rated for:

Memorable Characters Intricate Storyline Vivid Descriptions Insightful Social Commentary Incredible Voice Acting
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Miriam Margolyes is AMAZING!!!

I couldn’t stop listening to Miriam’s reading of this classic Dickens novel!
She did a fabulous job with all the diverse characters in this one story!
Thank you Audible!!

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Classic brilliance

This is one of the finest readings of any book I have heard. Miriam Margolyes is marvelous and the author not too shabby either!

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Miriam Margolyes!

An investment of time for the listener, but worth every minute thanks to the performance of Miriam Margolyes. Absolutely incredible!

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Bleak but beautiful

great writing and superb narration lifts a tame story. Amazing performance with many voices

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Incredible performance

I am devastated that I have just finished this! Miriam Margolyes is absolutely incredible as a narrator, capturing perfectly the massive cast of characters.
Loved every minute!

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Different voices are a bit much

The normal reading is fine, but when certain voices are done for specific characters it is UNBELIEVABLY annoying. Not only that, but the volumes of voices are all over the place. It’s either too quiet to hear or too loud that it hurts your ears if you have headphones in. I wish they would either encourage actors to keep a specific level of volume or that audible would edit these performances to be more equal to make this listening experience more enjoyable. Love Dickens, didn’t like the person reading.

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Wonderful narration!

Miriam Margolyes is by far the best narrator I’ve had the pleasure to listen to. She handles a plethora of characters with apparent ease, each with their own distinctive voice. It amazes me! And of course, this Dickens novel is one of his best.

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Miriam is Magic

I have never heard such great vocal talent. With the huge cast of this book, she delineates them all! Best ever!

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Best audiobook I’ve ever listened to.

First thing-listening to the opening chapter of this book on a cold foggy day or night is an experience. I’ve listened to the opening chapter probably 20 times over the years because it is so descriptive and wonderful. Next, this particular performance is exquisite. This actor is so talented that the minute she starts a sentence in one of the voices of the dozens of characters, you know immediately who it is before she tells you. Besides that, the emotion really comes through beautifully. The book itself is a wonderful story full of believable characters and perhaps the most believable one is the Court of Chancery itself. As someone who has engaged in estate litigation, the description of it is absolutely perfect. Finally, is anyone so pure, so good as Esther? I love this character. As easy as it is to despise Lizzie Eustace or Becky Sharp, it is easier to love Esther Summerson. She is so genuinely virtuous and kind. I just love her. I love so many of the characters in this story. I could go on and on. Don’t miss this book. It’s outstanding.

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Arguably Dickens's best novel

Long, but well worth the effort. The reader was masterful, able to capture each character's individual voice with precision.
Highly recommended.

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