A to Z Challenge: C & D is for Charles Dickens' Bleak House

I'm finishing off the first week with a double post for the letter's C & D for the A-Z Challenge.  This may seem like a stretch but when you consider Charles Dickens and the novel, Bleak House, you can understand why I'm doing a double post.

Written from 1852- 1853, Bleak House was Charles Dickens ninth novel and was to many classic lit enthusiasts, considered one of Dickens greatest works.  Even though I'm a huge fan of Dickens, I actually didn't know much Bleak House.  What I found in my research was so extensive, it was somewhat overwhelming.  Below is my best attempt highlighting some of particulars about this wonderfully written story.

Bleak House

Dickens' Bleak House, like many of his novels was written in a series and then published later in novel format.  During the Victorian era, penny dreadfuls were very popular.  I found an interesting book called, White Magic: The Age of Paper, written by Lothar Müller, where he discusses how the invention of the paper machine led to the many penny dreadfuls.  It also mentions how Dickens, not being a fan penny dreadful authors like G.W.M. Reynolds, did capitalize on the "newly literate audience" by writing his own detective story which featured key characters like the narrator and heroine, Esther Summerson.  The cast of memorable characters feels endless and I won't even dive into that.  In typical Dickens fashion, his storytelling is legendary, using perfectly flawed characters and tying them into an real-life intricate plots and subplots.  The Bleak House was a detective story and it's premise provided a window into how the English Chancery court system worked during the early to mid 1800s.  Trials and legal proceedings could remain stagnate for decades, leaving the poor to carry the brunt of the farcical legal system.  In truth that same process can be similarly compared to many of the legal cases or proceedings we see today.  Dickens mocked his time's legal system which many surmised was based on her own personal experience.  Did you know Dickens worked as a law clerk and court reporter?  Yes he did.  Additionally, his father was sent to prison for debt which undoubtedly had an impact on how he perceived and wrote about the system and all it's follies.

Although this book isn't a classic horror tale, it certainly highlights the darkness of humanity.  Greg Buzzell from the British Library wrote an articulate piece called  Charles Dickens, Victorian Gothic and Bleak House  where he discusses how Dickens' "incorporates and evolves Gothic imagery, settings and plot devices."  Dickens did have a knack for writing incredibly descriptive scenes that gave a dark or goth-like vibe to the reader.  He could easily shine a harsh and often truthful light on the people's ignorance, inadequacies and even stoic heroism.

Lastly, the artwork in Bleak House was amazing to say the least.  The illustrator, Hablot Knight Browne (pen name Phiz) "is most known for David Copperfield, Pickwick, Dombey and Son, Martin Chuzzlewit and Bleak House."

Where can I get a copy of Bleak House?

I found my e-copy on Amazon again and you guessed it....it's free!   Click here to get your copy.  

PBS's Masterpiece Theater

Did you know the PBS's Masterpiece Theater produced a mini series back in 2005?  And apparently in 1985 as well.  Yup.  The reviews for both series were high.  The most recent one had reviews listed at above an 8 on IMDB which is pretty impressive.  The latest version had classically-trained actors like Anna Maxwell Martin, Carey Mulligan, Denis Lawson, Charles Dance and cult-fan X-File's favorite, Gillian Anderson.

And to answer your question, no I haven't seen it yet.  I've put it on my watch-list though.




Have your read classic tale? What about the mini-series?  Do you have a favorite Dickens novel?

Have a great weekend!

Mina Burrows

Fridays with Fred: Jacob "Fred" Marley

Like most people, one of my favorite classics is A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.  My last post about best opening lines in novels had the subject of this Christmas classic at the forefront of my mind.  I loved these first few opening lines too, "MARLEY was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The register of his burial was signed by the clergyman, the clerk, the undertaker, and the chief mourner. Scrooge signed it: and Scrooge's name was good upon 'Change, for anything he chose to put his hand to. Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail."


Anyway, I reviewed this classic last year & thought Fred would make a spectacular Marley ghost!  What say ye?

Jacob "Fred" Marley

If you get a chance, please visit Schatze over at Mary’s BookHounds too.  Fred loves her.

REMINDER, my 1000 Follower Giveaway to reach 1000 ends by the end of 2011. I'm about 45 away. Awesome! Tell your friends!

Have a great weekend!

Mina B.

A Creepy Classic Review: Dickens's A Christmas Carol

This month’s Creepy Classic and the last post of this year is Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.  For starters – for those that don’t know – it’s a novella.  It can’t be more than a hundred pages, depending on the printed version you have.  But that’s neither her no there. It’s a “hellofa” good read – which is much more to the point.

When I first learned of this story, I was a child. In fact, I was a performer in a play of this classic.  I won’t tell you what character I played, but it’s memory still haunts me to this day.  I love this story back then and nothing’s changed.  I remember being smitten by the iconic words that Dickens wrote that were burned into my memory.  Strangely, when I recently picked up this book, it struck me to view how nearly every word/detail written by Dickens is – to this day – still described/regurgitated how he intended.  It’s amazing how close we’ve all carry this tale in our hearts.  That's a true indicator of a classic.

Scrooge was, at the beginning, a lost soul, very much like so many people today.  He’s lived his life in isolation, cursing the world around him.  It seems far likely to imagine an individual like that today, rather than some 150+ years ago.  But the truth is despite the advancement of technology, people I suspect are probably the same now as they were back then.  The world is most likely still filled with too many cynical, money-hungy Scrooges.  And that’s what makes this story more relevant.

The story begins with the disgusting reality of who Scrooge is; an unfeeling, rich ogre.  They say your past shapes you and I wonder if that’s what happened with Scrooge.  He grew up with more means and opportunity than most and eventually an opportunity for love.  Yet then he threw it all away and chose to live a lonely existance.   And over the years he was transformed into lonely, unbearable grouch?  Oh, I loved this tale so very, very much.

The writing and story are so timeless it’s inexplicable.  And let's face it, we all have a bit of Scrooge buried deep within that surfaces from time to time.  For so many people, life can be terribly daunting, just like how it was for Scrooge.  But to have the opportunity at a second chance – to infuse happiness back in an otherwise morose life is priceless, practically a Christmas miracle.  

This tale is a 5 for me, hands down. I love, love, love Dickens’s A Christmas Carol.

Until next time….try something different, read a classic.

Mina B.