Bleak House

1853

Dickens's novel of the Court of Chancery, where the suit of Jarndyce and Jarndyce has ground on so long that nobody living remembers what it is about. The narration alternates between an anonymous present-tense voice and Esther Summerson's own account, and the two only converge once the mystery of her parentage does.

Preface
Chapter I In Chancery
Chapter II In Fashion
Chapter III A Progress
Chapter IV Telescopic Philanthropy
Chapter V A Morning Adventure
Chapter VI Quite at Home
Chapter VII The Ghost’s Walk
Chapter VIII Covering a Multitude of Sins
Chapter IX Signs and Tokens
Chapter X The Law-Writer
Chapter XI Our Dear Brother
Chapter XII On the Watch
Chapter XIII Esther’s Narrative
Chapter XIV Deportment
Chapter XV Bell Yard
Chapter XVI Tom-all-Alone’s
Chapter XVII Esther’s Narrative
Chapter XVIII Lady Dedlock
Chapter XIX Moving On
Chapter XX A New Lodger
Chapter XXI The Smallweed Family
Chapter XXII Mr. Bucket
Chapter XXIII Esther’s Narrative
Chapter XXIV An Appeal Case
Chapter XXV Mrs. Snagsby Sees It All
Chapter XXVI Sharpshooters
Chapter XXVII More Old Soldiers Than One
Chapter XXVIII The Ironmaster
Chapter XXIX The Young Man
Chapter XXX Esther’s Narrative
Chapter XXXI Nurse and Patient
Chapter XXXII The Appointed Time
Chapter XXXIII Interlopers
Chapter XXXIV A Turn of the Screw
Chapter XXXV Esther’s Narrative
Chapter XXXVI Chesney Wold
Chapter XXXVII Jarndyce and Jarndyce
Chapter XXXVIII A Struggle
Chapter XXXIX Attorney and Client
Chapter XL National and Domestic
Chapter XLI In Mr. Tulkinghorn’s Room
Chapter XLII In Mr. Tulkinghorn’s Chambers
Chapter XLIII Esther’s Narrative
Chapter XLIV The Letter and the Answer
Chapter XLV In Trust
Chapter XLVI Stop Him!
Chapter XLVII Jo’s Will
Chapter XLVIII Closing In
Chapter XLIX Dutiful Friendship
Chapter L Esther’s Narrative
Chapter LI Enlightened
Chapter LII Obstinacy
Chapter LIII The Track
Chapter LIV Springing a Mine
Chapter LV Flight
Chapter LVI Pursuit
Chapter LVII Esther’s Narrative
Chapter LVIII A Wintry Day and Night
Chapter LIX Esther’s Narrative
Chapter LX Perspective
Chapter LXI A Discovery
Chapter LXII Another Discovery
Chapter LXIII Steel and Iron
Chapter LXIV Esther’s Narrative
Chapter LXV Beginning the World
Chapter LXVI Down in Lincolnshire
Chapter LXVII The Close of Esther’s Narrative