Bleak House (version 4)


Read by Peter John Keeble

(4.9 stars; 72 reviews)

Bleak house is one of Dickens finest achievements. It was written for serialisation in 1853 when Dickens was at the peak of his career. Monthly sales substantially exceeded his previous bestseller David Copperfield.
Dickens' mastery of the English language comes to the fore in this book. It is an energetic book: a complex mystery story revolving around the heroine Esther Summerson and her path from childhood to marriage. During the course of Esther’s narration Dickens introduces some wonderful and unforgettable characters, and at the same time provides a searing indictment of the laws’ corruption and self-serving interests which prevailed during that time. He pokes fun at the languid and landed aristocracy and questions the societal indifference to the poor. Detection, black comedy, farce, and tragic ruin run through the story. Critics at the time were unenthusiastic but the public were enthralled by it! - Summary by Peter John Keeble (34 hr 4 min)

Chapters

Preface 5:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
In Chancery 16:55 Read by Peter John Keeble
In Fashion 18:09 Read by Peter John Keeble
A Progress 44:33 Read by Peter John Keeble
Telescopic Philanthropy 28:00 Read by Peter John Keeble
A Morning Adventure 32:19 Read by Peter John Keeble
Quite at Home 49:56 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Ghost's Walk 24:59 Read by Peter John Keeble
Covering a Multitude of Sins 46:48 Read by Peter John Keeble
Signs and Tokens 34:25 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Law-Writer 26:22 Read by Peter John Keeble
Our Dear Brother 34:14 Read by Peter John Keeble
On the Watch 34:15 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 34:29 Read by Peter John Keeble
Deportment 47:51 Read by Peter John Keeble
Bell Yard 33:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
Tom-all-Alone's 21:10 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esthers Narrative 32:02 Read by Peter John Keeble
Lady Dedlock 39:06 Read by Peter John Keeble
Moving On 32:16 Read by Peter John Keeble
A New Lodger 33:31 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Smallweed Family 40:19 Read by Peter John Keeble
Mr Bucket 30:06 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 42:10 Read by Peter John Keeble
An Appeal Case 40:34 Read by Peter John Keeble
Mrs Snagsby Sees It All 21:46 Read by Peter John Keeble
Sharpshooters 29:40 Read by Peter John Keeble
More Old Soldiers Than One 29:26 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Ironmaster 27:36 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Young Man 22:36 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 37:16 Read by Peter John Keeble
Nurse and Patient 35:28 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Appointed Time 31:12 Read by Peter John Keeble
Interlopers 34:55 Read by Peter John Keeble
A Turn of the Screw 35:48 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 35:12 Read by Peter John Keeble
Chesney Wold 37:48 Read by Peter John Keeble
Jarndyce and Jarndyce 43:14 Read by Peter John Keeble
A Struggle 23:56 Read by Peter John Keeble
Attorney and Client 39:58 Read by Peter John Keeble
National and Domestic 28:59 Read by Peter John Keeble
In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Room 20:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Chambers 17:26 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 36:16 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Letter and the Answer 15:41 Read by Peter John Keeble
In Trust 30:03 Read by Peter John Keeble
Stop Him! 19:31 Read by Peter John Keeble
Jo's Will 32:23 Read by Peter John Keeble
Closing In 38:00 Read by Peter John Keeble
Dutiful Friendship 31:55 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 22:44 Read by Peter John Keeble
Enlightened 25:57 Read by Peter John Keeble
Obstinacy 24:16 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Track 27:03 Read by Peter John Keeble
Springing a Mine 48:28 Read by Peter John Keeble
Flight 36:41 Read by Peter John Keeble
Pursuit 19:35 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 40:31 Read by Peter John Keeble
A Wintry Day and Night 33:46 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 29:56 Read by Peter John Keeble
Perspective 29:21 Read by Peter John Keeble
A Discovery 24:35 Read by Peter John Keeble
Another Discovery 20:17 Read by Peter John Keeble
Steel and Iron 17:47 Read by Peter John Keeble
Esther's Narrative 25:29 Read by Peter John Keeble
Beginning the World LXVI. 16:08 Read by Peter John Keeble
Down in Lincolnshire LXVII. 11:13 Read by Peter John Keeble
The Close of Esther's Narrative 9:53 Read by Peter John Keeble

Reviews

Beautiful a must listen


(5 stars)

Peter John Keeble reads this story beautifully, his accent adds to the feel of the whole book he is now on my list of excellent narrators that I won't hesitate to listen and what's more the time he has volunteered to read this to us.


(5 stars)

The best. Peter John Keeble is perfect for Bleak House. Darn long book. I must have walked at least 60 miles listening. He brought the characters alive.


(5 stars)

As always, one of Dickens’ best again narrated by one of the finest voices in the entire LibriVox collection !!! IMHO, only topped by Lars Rolander, Phil Chenevert, and Andy Minter in all points, totally excellent for narrative consistency, smooth steady delivery, and the ability to project into a speaking selection such wealth of understanding the book comes alive to the listener in such a way that you feel the author is reading it to you alone for the first time !!! Thank you All !!!

my favorite dickens


(4.5 stars)

Dickens has never been a favorite of mine, but Esther and her first person narrative give us the most complex and mature female heroine than I have yet encountered in English romance, including all Jane Austen put together. That the reader hails from Nottingham, UK, gives this reading an air of authenticity to my tin Yankee ears, although I did have to play back at normal rather than accelerated speeds as I often like to do with audiobooks, especially of such length.

Excellent Interpretation


(5 stars)

Having listened to most of the catalogue of Dickens novels and the various readers, Mr. Keeble gives the best delivery and interpretation of the characters in his reading of this novel. It’s simply perfect. Thank you for your contribution, dedication, and sincerity in your work, Mr. Keeble, you have kept me company and are a gift to time and imagination.

Good.


(4 stars)

Excellent voice. Well modulated and adjusted to each character. Occasionally he skips a few lines of the book on accident.

Excellently read with understanding and warmth.


(5 stars)

Love this book!


(5 stars)

Excellent reader, amazing characters, fascinating plot. Nor much happens until about halfway through, even so, it's interesting and well worth it! I had read the book first, and now listening to it, I realized I had missed a lot the first time.