Famous novel built around the fictional interminable chancery case Jarndyce v. Jarndyce.
Dickens masterful at painting scenes . . . early/favorite example is the three spending an evening at Jellyby's (interested in Africa, children bouncing 'round the premises, unkempt) - perhaps not an obviously entrancing scene, but he makes it so
Tulkinghorn counsel for Dedlock (Chesney Wold); Ms. Dedlock recognizes handwriting, Tulkinghorn investigates, opium-taker dead
distantly related to Jarndyce of Bleak House, his niece Ada, her cousin
Esther as Ada's companion; raised by aunt; placed for a few years at a school for governesses where she thrived
Jellyby a do-gooder in London
some other do-gooder near Bleak House; she visits the brickmaker's family, where infant dies
so many threads left dangling until the end, but it works
interesting to think of the serial approach
divided between Esther's narrative and "regular" writing
little things that give a sense of life in those days . . . I appreciate . . . on the journey with Mr. Bucket (who turns out to be a significant character), Esther gets cold and wet . . . including from the need for passengers to alight and walk up slippery/slushy hills when horses struggled
Esther, her guardian, and Dr. Woodcourt as idealized characters
long, but well worth reading - I enjoyed this a great deal
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