Bleak House is a novel written by British author Charles Dickens. Initially, it was published serially but later on, it came out in the book form. Many consider this novel among the authors best work. The novel narrates the story of the Jarndyce family, who wait in vain to inherit money from a disputed fortune in the settlement of the extremely long-running lawsuit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. Bleak House is also critical of Englands judiciary during the period, in which cases could linger on through decades of distorted legal manipulation. The issue in the novel relates two young wards of the court, Ada Clare and Richard Carstone, who are seeking permission to take up residence with a distant cousin, Mr. John Jarndyce. Later, the lawyer Mr. Tulkinghorn stops by the London home of Sir Leicester Dedlock and Lady Honoria Dedlock who is also connected with the suit. As the novel goes on, Richard tries and discards several vocational options in the belief that he will inherit a substantial sum when the lawsuit is settled.
About the Author
Dickens is also known for his stark portraits of the underclass in Victorian-era London, highlighting the wealth gap and making his readers more socially aware. His work continues to influence literature and pop culture, with many of his works taught to young readers. The Pickwick Papers is an early example of Dickens’s satirical style and examinations of upper- and lower-class tensions.
