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Bleak House
- The Audible Dickens Collection
- Narrated by: Miriam Margolyes
- Length: 43 hrs and 12 mins
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Bleak House
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Publisher's Summary
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.
What the critics say
"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)
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What listeners say about Bleak House
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sharron padden
- 2019-07-01
Bleak House
My first comment has to be that the narrator has an incredible command of her voice. It was very easy to distinguish between the characters. The way that Dickens developed his many characters was amazing but I would expect nothing less from him.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Richard Strout
- 2019-11-28
Most Worthwhile!
Will long be remembered as a most moving tale full of emotion. Long live Dickens!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Laura
- 2018-10-22
amazing.
absolutely incredible. she does such an amazing job giving each character a voice. loved it!
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6 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G
- 2019-10-04
Spectacular!
You will find yourself laughing and crying by turns! Masterfully written and beautifully performed. Minute by minute and hour by hour you are drawn into the lives of all of Dickens’ superb characters.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- patti
- 2019-12-22
Bleak House a better read
This is a great novel which I read a number of years ago. Very well performed. But I think due to the complexity of the story lines, it's a better read than listen.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Emad Talisman
- 2023-03-21
Masterpiece by Dickens and inspirational performance by Margolyes
This book is a commitment. Every reader will agree that Dickens’ decision to fully develop his 50+ characters in Bleak House would be a deal breaker for any modern publisher, but the historical value of this novel is indisputable. Dickens captures the period in vivid detail, turning the most mundane and bureaucratic elements into clever prose. He weaves his commentaries and personal reflections into dialogue, the careful choreography of interlocutors, or settings that amplify his intended themes.
As someone who struggles with following the simplest of plots, I cannot imagine reading this book cover-to-cover without getting completely lost, like in some Brazilian favela. That is why I am so grateful to Miriam Margolyes for being my sherpa. From start to finish, all 45+ hours was delivered with theatrical vigour.
Bravo.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Jasmine
- 2023-12-05
An amazing performance by the narrator
An interesting story, but it was too long at times. That being said the narrator’s performance made it engaging so worth the listen
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- David M. Sullivan
- 2019-02-21
Likeable if not lovable
A long and complex story told by a saint. Her many tears become a bit wearying at times, but that was the age. A rather darker, less comic novel, compared to other Dickens stories, and perhaps that absence is what makes the piece seem to drag on, especially at the end, where Dickens spends a lot of time rewarding saints and punishing sinners. Critics seem to prefer "Bleak House" overall, but to my mind what is impressive in the book comes at the expense of what is loveable. To each his own. Ms. Margoyles is an excellent reader and "do the voices" as any good Dickens reader should, though perhaps understandably, better with female than male voices.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- margaret
- 2019-06-02
Pure enjoyment
Miriam - you did a superb job of narration. I enjoyed every word you spoke, accents, different voices - the best narration I have listened to.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2021-07-03
Miriam Margoyles brings Bleak House to life
This is a wonderfully complex and engaging story to which Miriam Margoyles brings an array of astonishing performances to indelibly inscribe the principle characters in mind and memory. The unmasking of the crime by a beguiling detective near the end is riveting. Thoroughly enjoyable throughout
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