Bleak House

a novel by Charles Dickens published in 1853. In this story the chief characters belong to a less humble stratum of society than those in most of Dickens' tales. Esther Summerson is the heroine of the story, and through a life of nobleness and loving self-sacrifice is led at last to happiness. As a sort of secondary theme, Dickens introduces the famous case of Jarndyce vs. Jarndyce, a satire on the Court of Chancery. His graphic pictures of the trouble and misfortune caused by long delays due to the complicated forms of procedure in this court are said to have been influential in securing subsequent reforms in this department of English jurisprudence. Mrs. Jellyby, neglecting her family that she may devote her time to Borrioboola-Gha and the "natives"; Mr. Jarndyce, giving himself to kind deeds and complaining that "the wind is east"; Little Jo, always "movin'on"; Mr. Skimpole, refusing to understand anything connected with money; Grandfather Smallweed; Mr. Turveydrop; the unhappy Lady Dedlock,--these are the figures that Bleak House brings to mind. Many regard it as Dickens' best novel. He himself said, "In Bleak House, I have purposely dwelt upon the romantic side of familiar things."