Bleak House
Charles Dickens
Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011)
Bleak House is the ninth novel by Charles Dickens, published in 20 monthly parts between March 1852 and September 1853. It is widely held to be one of Dickens' finest and most complete novels, containing one of the most vast, complex and engaging arrays of minor characters and sub-plots in his entire canon. Dickens tells all of these both through the narrative of the novel's heroine, Esther Summerson, and as an omniscient narrator. Memorable characters include the menacing lawyer Tulkinghorn, the friendly but depressive John Jarndyce and the childish Harold Skimpole. The plot concerns a long-running legal dispute (Jarndyce and Jarndyce) which has far-reaching consequences for all involved. (Summary from Wikipedia) (43 hr 30 min)
Chapters
| In Chancery | 26:22 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| In Fashion | 23:49 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A Progress | 59:23 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Telescopic Philanthropy | 34:41 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A Morning Adventure | 43:27 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Quite at Home | 1:07:45 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Ghost's Walk | 31:31 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Covering a Multitude of Sins | 59:04 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Signs and Tokens | 45:46 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Law-Writer | 34:22 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Our Dear Brother | 45:21 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| On the Watch | 41:44 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 42:29 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Deportment | 1:04:47 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Bell Yard | 45:14 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Tom-all-Alone's | 25:29 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 40:20 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Lady Dedlock | 52:33 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Moving on | 40:44 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A New Lodger | 42:58 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Smallweed Family | 54:13 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Mr. Bucket | 39:13 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 52:27 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| An Appeal Case | 50:17 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Mrs. Snagsby Sees it All | 28:51 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Sharpshooters | 38:22 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| More Old Soldiers than One | 38:06 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Ironmaster | 36:12 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Young Man | 30:13 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 47:03 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Nurse and Patient | 48:19 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Appointed Time | 41:37 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Interlopers | 45:39 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A Turn of the Screw | 43:17 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 45:48 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Chesney Wold | 50:30 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Jarndyce and Jarndyce | 58:11 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A Struggle | 31:43 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Attorney and Client | 50:20 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| National and Domestic | 38:29 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Room | 27:36 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Chambers | 23:18 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 43:51 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Letter and the Answer | 21:40 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| In Trust | 37:05 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Stop him! | 25:33 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Jo's Will | 39:55 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Closing In | 46:51 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Dutiful Friendship | 40:22 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 27:53 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Enlightened | 30:54 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Obstinacy | 30:28 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Track | 31:56 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Springing a Mine | 58:48 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Flight | 45:01 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Pursuit | 23:15 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 49:38 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A Wintry Day and Night | 40:34 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 35:01 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Perspective | 36:07 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| A Discovery | 30:00 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Another Discovery | 25:36 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Steel and Iron | 22:55 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Esther's Narrative | 32:55 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Beginning the World | 19:42 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| Down in Lincolnshire | 13:48 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
| The Close of Esther's Narrative | 12:58 | Read by Cynthia Lyons (1946-2011) |
Reviews
Homemade and Charming
bowhows
Bleak House is a charming story full of unforgettable characters. Ms. Lyons does tend to knock her mic around a bit and stumble here and there, but as you proceed through the story you get the feeling a good friend is reading to you, rather than some distant professional. Her rendition of the characters also contributes to their charm. I was sorry the story had to end . . .
Most Excellent Audio!
Lynette C.
Bleak House is now, quite soundly, my very favorite Dickens novel, and being his only work with a female narrator, it deserves a female reader. Cynthia Lyons gives us a spectacular recording that is charming, easy on the ear, and never makes you think her amateur status is any kind of liability. So very glad I happened upon her work here.
One OUTSTANDING novel !
Unknown
Absolutely one of Dickens best works. Highly recommended read. I would give it five stars but the rating site won’t allow me to activate the fifth star for some reason.
Well done
Rebekah
I really enjoy the narration of this book. She has a nice tone of voice and does a really good job making everything understandable and easy to listen to.
Great book
Noel
Great story. Took a few chapters to really get going though. Well read. Thank you for the mammoth effort. Enjoyed.
Immaculate
Takes a very long time to get into it, but good story once all is said and done.
Great
A LibriVox Listener
I loved "reading" this book for the second time in this recording. Well done!
oops!
Lorri
My review below should apply to the Mil Nicholson reading. That reading is superb!