Bleak House
Bleak House turns on Jarndyce and Jarndyce, a lawsuit over a will that has dragged through the Court of Chancery for so long that nobody remembers what it is about. Around it Charles Dickens arranges a cast that runs from Chesney Wold and the secret of Lady Dedlock to the slum of Tom-all-Alone's and the crossing sweeper Jo, with Inspector Bucket, one of the first detectives in English fiction, tying the threads together. Half the book is told by Esther Summerson, a young woman of unknown parentage; the other half by an unnamed narrator in the present tense. Published in installments in 1852 and 1853, it is Dickens's most elaborate novel and one of his darkest. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Bleak House
Bleak House by Charles Dickens can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Bleak House online?
Yes. Bleak House opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Bleak House free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Bleak House is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Bleak House in the public domain?
Yes. Bleak House by Charles Dickens is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Bleak House?
About 23 h 40 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Bleak House?
Bleak House by Charles Dickens is filed under "Fiction" in the Vinteuil library.
