Bleak House - Chapters I-IV

In which I talk about March's chapters of the Victorian-style readalong of Bleak House. Welcome to the readalong...
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[@emiliah.o.3443]

3 years later I am very grateful that these videos exist because I'm currently having to read Bleak House for a reading list. For some reason I've always struggled with / not enjoyed Dickens (perhaps like you with George Eliot, whose writing I personally love!), but hearing you talk about this is very helpful and inspiring, so thank you!

[@smalltown2223]

I loved the Bleak House Trilogy although of the three Bleak Bungalow is my favourite, followed by Bleak Flat then of course Bleak House.

[@kathybolton2240]

Happy to be part of this read along of Bleak House. The characters were interesting from the first and look forward to seeing how they develop through the book. Esther, Ada, and Richard come across as the most likeable of the group so far. Katie your understanding of Dickens blows me away!!! You gave us such a wealth of information for future reference. Thanks!!

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks - I hope you continue to enjoy it. There is plenty of Esther, Ada and Richard to come.

[@mae9064]

December 2023 Katie and these vids have huge value thank you 🤗

[@AnneshaMahanta]

I have been following your videos especially the one on classics for years now and it's always such a delight to hear you speak about Dickens, who is also my all time favourite author. I am reading Bleakhouse again and I finished the first four chapters and came back to see your video again. I love your interpretation and analysis of Dickens. It's a true joy

[@DuaneJasper]

You're really on fire here, I'm reading the book and will no doubt pop back here every 4 chapters

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks so much :)

[@kellykroger272]

I think the first chapter of Bleak House is Dickens at his finest. The writing is so vivid and London is personified. The city itself is it's own character. You can see the fog, the darkness, the dirt and how the physical characteristics of the city provide not just a setting but, a mood of depression, negativity, detachment and a kind of futility. It is brilliant!

[@katiejlumsden]

It is such a brilliant chapter, isn't it? I love it!

[@Fortheloveofclassics]

Kelly Kroger I loved when Dickens was going on and on about the fog in London. It made it all so vivid.

[@mikesnyder1788]

I was a voracious reader of Dickens back in the 1980's and 1990's and "Bleak House" was an absolute delight. Now in my mid-70's I find thick books too much for me to process so... Thank goodness for audio books and for the voice actress Mildred Nicholson who did an excellent job with "Our Mutual Friend" and now "Bleak House." I am still in the early stages of the book having just met a typical Dickensian grotesque character in the person of Krook, the purveyor of rags and bones. Absolutely first rate literature here!

[@karenkoutsoumbaris6308]

I'm just loving it, Thankyou for giving me the gift of Bleakhouse!

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm so glad you're enjoying it :)

[@PauliePizza]

I have been following along with you. I am not a scholar never went to college. Just an advantage person, but I do like Dickens. The way he details events and people is amazing. Sometimes I have to read a paragraph twice to understand what is taking place and listening to you review it helps solidify everything. Thanks for the video.

[@sLOTFY100]

Lovely video ! I’m reading chapters of Bleak House based on your videos. As a lawyer I find it very interesting, even though I don’t practice in the UK and am not that familiar with the British legal system

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! It's a fascinating book.

[@Thespian32]

I loved the opening pages and his description of the london fog and how he compared that to Chancery. His characters are all brilliant but chapter 4 and the household of Jellyby. All brilliant characters. I really enjoyed your in depth review of the opening chapters and can't wait for more

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks :) I'm glad you enjoyed the chapters.

[@roserobinson6411]

I wish I had been in on this readalong from the beginning, but I didn't discover your channel until recently. So happy I can still enjoy your videos about Bleak House anyway -- your insights really enhanced my reading experience. I wondered if Mrs. Jellyby was at least partially based upon Dickens' own wife. He was similarly critical of his wife's appearance, and with 10 children in the home, it may have felt as chaotic to him as he described the Jellyby home.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks! Yes, I do wonder if that's the case. I know he had said that his wife was not a good housekeeper.

[@mohammadhajkhalil1981]

i am so happy i found this playlist, bleak house is one of my favorite books, i will watch the whole series. Please keep up the good work, Cheers.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks :)

[@hamiltonpaul73]

Thanks very much for the helpful and insightful commentary. I am listening as I read ‘Bleak House’ and it helps me to put the novel in perspective.

[@katiejlumsden]

I hope you're enjoying it :)

[@hamiltonpaul73]

Thanks! I started ‘Bleak House’ two times before and didn’t finish it. I was a bit discouraged. Your videos have really helped me this time. There are a lot of characters to keep track of. Passed the halfway mark now . . . I‘m glad I have taken the time & glad for the support of your work here.

[@ZoeBeck7]

This is a new read for me, but I’ve been wanting to try Dickens again. I had never had any interest in Bleak House because it never came up in my university courses. But I’m surprised how it’s sucking me in already. Though I’m curious to see how this dual perspective will go. I think it’ll be hard to stick to the serial reading, but I’m glad I picked this book up. Thanks for setting up the readalong. -Amy

[@katiejlumsden]

I really hope you like it going forward. The dual narrative is certainly a great thing about Bleak House.

[@laurak5196]

This is my second read and your analysis is really making it more clear and interesting, Katie. Thanks for taking the time to do it. I still need to read chapter four but I think I will read through chapter 7 again at the end of April. I'm not sure the Victorian installments are the way for me to read, but either way, really enjoying your insights.

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks Laura :)

[@kevingreenwood1900]

Great video. Since the last time I read this book and now for the 3rd time, I know much more about Dickens the man. I must admit that his work for young, 'fallen' females, to me, is suspect. I've not know any man who wants to help teen girls or boys who came at it disinterestedly. Perhaps this is due to when and where I was raised, IDK. But when Dickens switches to Esther's narrative I read it quite differently than before. Still, despite the man, I love this Book.

[@katiejlumsden]

It is a great book.

[@jansmith9391]

I’m finding Bleak House more engaging than OMT. It will be difficult to keep to the schedule as I want to keep reading! Thank you again for doing this readalong!

[@katiejlumsden]

Good luck; I hope you like it :)

[@donlevy8960]

I love Bleak House. One of my favorite Dickens novel.

[@katiejlumsden]

It is a great one!

[@radiantchristina]

I am enjoying the book. I have been doing a combination of the audiobook and the physical book.

[@katiejlumsden]

It seems a couple of people are doing that. I should get my hands on an audiobook of it one of these days.

[@michaelpinder844]

@@katiejlumsden Miriam Margolyes has a made a superb reading for Audible.

[@laurac56]

So far I am really enjoying Bleak House. I chose to read the book and listen to the audiobook at the same time. I find that this method works well for me when I want to be careful to catch all of the details because I can tend to skim as I read if I’m not careful. I really enjoyed your discussion and think it especially valuable because there is such a long time between reads.

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm really glad you've been enjoying it.

[@Maria_Efe]

Esther reminded me too of Jane Eyre (though maybe without Jane's gumption), while Caddy kind of reminded me of Eponine from Les Miserables (which hadn't been published yet, but anyway), and the way she was ashamed of her family when they were living in the same building as Marius Pontmercy. I've fallen a little behind with the read-along, but I hope to catch up by the end of the month. I really enjoyed these first chapters, especially the new wonders of the dual narrative voice! I actually liked Esther's chapters, even if she is a bit "dull" as a character, partly because they were way easier to follow and understand. As with Our Mutual Friend, I have watched the BBC series before, so I know the general direction of the plot, and I'm very excited for the things to come! :)

[@katiejlumsden]

Yes, I can certainly see connections between Jane Eyre and Esther, and Caddy certainly does seem a little like Eponine! I hope you continue to enjoy the book. The BBC mini series is wonderful!

[@mariyajaveedkhan159]

Thank you for phenomenal description you got a subscriber

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks so much :)

[@josielacey8372]

This is my second time reading Bleak House and I'd forgotten how much I love it! Dickens really does write the best characters! Also, I'm pretty sure Esther is 20 - she tells us she is 14 when her aunt dies then spent 6 years at Greenleaf before she was summoned to London.

[@katiejlumsden]

That does sound right. Maybe I had 21 in my head from a moment later in the book? Anyway, I really hope you enjoy your reread.

[@stressedoutofexistence663]

Very excited for the second read-along! Although OMF is not a favourite Dickens, I very much enjoyed your videos, keeping up to date with the plot, and seeing through your responses and thoughts on the serial. I relished the darker tone of OMF, and the populace of villains throughout (I want a novel about the Lammles alone); and now getting into BH, starting a new Dickens feels like an addiction!

[@katiejlumsden]

I hope you enjoy this one too! And yes, a novel about the Lammles would be pretty great!

[@cynthiaespinoza4514]

I'm doing this read along with you and I bought a notebook to take notes chapter by chapter. I'm really liking it, its especially good to hear your video and your thoughts! (I also did the " my mutual friend" read along with you:) thank you for these videos, I'm learning to really appreciate Dickens now!

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks, I hope you continue to enjoy it :)

[@Aureelia63N3]

Wow, thank you for the great commentary of the first chapters of "Bleak House". I just started reading the book and intend to go through all your videos on it too. It helps me to understand the book a little better or at least draw my attention to some details I didn`t initially understand or notice while I was reading. For example, I found your thoughts on the scene where Esther`s aunt/godmother cites the bible verse and collapses very illuminating. I did`t really know what to think of it as I was reading it, but your video made me see that yes, it does look like the woman was somehow convicted by the bible verse Esther was reading to her (about not judging others so harshly, when you are a sinner yourself). But instead of accepting and admitting that she had treated Esther badly, she rather seemed to passionately justify her own actions, by loudly citing another bible verse, which says that you have to be watchful all the time while waiting for Jesus` return - like that was more important than having mercy on other people when they make mistakes. Also I probably never would of thought of the meaning of Esther`s last name (summer sun) myself. I really had to love Esther too, like in the book everybody loves and is drawn to her. I think the 4th chapter was best in showing the reader what a wonderful person she is - by contrasting her kindness and practical mind to the misery, chaos and coldness of Mrs Jellyby`s house. Esther was just perfect, she did everything right, she stayed calm, knew instantly how to take care of the children and through all of it never judged anyone. That`s just amazing! It really moved me and made me wish that there were more people like Esther in this world - although, sadly I can`t really remember meeting anyone that perfect in real life. ;) There is the problem - Dickens seems to idealize those characters who put themselves last and everybody else first, but I don`t see how this could work in real life. I find it hard to believe that anyone could actually be happy and content while not believing they even deserve happiness. How could they accept the happy ending Dickens always gives his good characters if they feel unworthy of it? Wouldn`t they feel a subconscious need to sabotage themselves to make the situation a little more "just"? And what kind of happiness is even possible when they are never for a moment able to stop working towards other people`s acceptance - because of course in their own mind, they don`t deserve anything just the way they are? It may look good on the outside but really, deep down, for the person themselves, it can be very unhealthy. But I think I need to stop now, this post is getting way too long. Thank you again for the thought provoking video! Looking forward to watching the next one when I have finished the next 3 chapters. :)

[@katiejlumsden]

Thanks, I'm glad it was useful :) Esther is such an interesting character - a little bit idealised, but still very interesting!

[@MrGalonge]

Thank you for this. I likewise struggled the most with Mrs. Jellyby's character regarding Dickens' socio-philosophical critique. She represents his seemingly strong opposition to utilitarianism; however, I feel he is a little heavy handed in his representation. I never considered the colonialism angle, very interesting.

[@katiejlumsden]

She's an interesting one - I'm finding it really interesting to reconsider her doing this readalong.

[@laraelwing]

I'm starting a bit late, but already enjoying it very much :)

[@katiejlumsden]

I really hope you enjoy it!

[@christophergould8715]

Interesting what Dickens does with names. Richard Jarndyce. Rich and wretched to do with his predicament Iin the law suit.

[@hill7912A]

I am really enjoying the dickensreadalong so far. As it was my first time reading the book, I am a bit proud that I picked up on many of your points all by myself (Not very Esther like :)). I was just thinking as you read "I wish I was dead" she broke out. "I wish we were all dead. It would be a great deal better for us." That Dickens has written a really good protayl of a teenage girl in Miss Jellybelly. Also that teenage girls haven't changed much in their melodrama over the ages. :)

[@katiejlumsden]

Very true! I love Caddy as a character is so brilliant and presented so well.

[@danil.6667]

I was super enjoying this book back in uni, but I stopped a little over half way because I had so many other books I had to get to. Taking 5 lit classes at once was a bad idea, lol.

[@katiejlumsden]

That is a lot!

[@readingclosely2160]

So far I'm really enjoying this book. The first two chapters are a bit disorienting, rather like in "Our Mutual Friend," but I actually love that. It feels so experimental for the mid-19th century. And yes, I see those interesting similarities to "Jane Eyre." I've also noted some similarities between "Jane Eyre" and "Dombey and Son" (Edith's relationship to her mother reminded me of Blanche's relationship to hers), and I wondered whether there's any evidence that Bronte and Dickens read each other's work?

[@katiejlumsden]

It is, isn't it? I love the experimental writing style. I'm pretty sure Dickens and Charlotte Bronte read each other, but I can't remember where I read that...

[@heatheralice89]

❤

[@KevTheImpaler]

I'm taking part of the readalong. It's the second read for me. I found the first two chapters a little hard to follow, but it came alive when Esther started her narration. I read somewhere that Esther is not as nice as she seems. I am going to keep track of how the 3rd person narrator presents Mrs Jellyby and the other characters Esther does not like.

[@katiejlumsden]

I do sometimes wonder if Esther's self-deprecating nature is a kind of compliment-fishing one, a little disingenuous in some way. I will keep an eye out for that!

[@readingclosely2160]

The self-deprecation reminds me a little of Rosa Dartle in "David Copperfield," but Esther (so far) strikes me as a genuinely good person--if anything, too perfect.

[@michaelpinder844]

Yes, Esther has her dark side, I'm sure. Why did she bury her beloved dolly! A Freudian analysis is required there, I think!

[@gerganamarianova7534]

I actually found it really hard to criticise Dickens about his treatment of Mrs Jellyby, because his writing is so convincing. He makes her seem like such a caricature of a person, caricature of a woman, with her household and servants a mess and her children wandering off. And then you take a step back, look at her from a new perspective and say: "Wait a minute! This can't be right!". From a modern perspective she is doing nothing wrong. Also yes, I do believe that Dickens was criticising imperial influence over the colonies too when he talks about cultivating natives.

[@katiejlumsden]

I think you're probably right (although I had never noticed that other aspect of criticism to Mrs Jellyby's charitable work). Mrs Jellyby is so complicated because I think you can see things from her perspective, but also she seems to feel so little for her children.

[@MrGalonge]

The word 'caricature' hits it right on the head. I find his critique through her to be unconvincing because of how exaggerated and unrealistic she is. If I had to defend him from a modern perspective, I'd say that he is criticizing those who donate to charitable causes abroad, while doing nothing to solve the problems within their own communities. Living in Los Angeles, there are many such people here; as local homelessness is rampant, yet we donate large sums of money to a broad range of causes. Moreover, it speaks to the modern person who prefers to donate money, rather than getting their hands dirty, so as to conveniently placate their own inner guilt.

[@tmac8892]

Those who live in glass houses should never invite over he who is without sin.

[@SunriseFireberry]

Ch. 1. Both meteorological & moral fog. Court of Chancery is depicted as a dinosaur run amok/amuck. CD doesn't always criticize law. When the 2 wards, Ada & Richard, are given over to the care of J. Jarndyce, it is done expeditiously, & with some concern over the future well-being of these young people. Ditto for Esther. His social critic aim as I see it is the Court of Chancery. CD bashes the Engish legal system when it's due. Where would you rank Tulkinghorn in the pantheon of CD villains? Why? Why do you feel that BH was CD's best seller during his lifetime? I have my own theories but want to hear yours. Esther's chapters are aimed at middle class readers. She's like HP's point of view in HP books: 3rd person limited & can be/is an unreliable narrator. The first person omniscient chapters contain at times the meaty dense writing that kept the highbrow readers & the intellectuals interested in the book. Gotta have them nuggets for the literary connoisseurs. (Mozart often did the same in terms of music.) CD always tried to have different levels of writing in his books in order to try to please everybody. Don't think Esther likes everybody, but if a person flunks out with her she's got good reasons for not liking that person. What exactly does Mrs. Jellyby do that's good for Africa? Remind me.

[@katiejlumsden]

I'm not sure whether Tulkinghorn is a villian or not. He's a little more complex in a way. Mrs Jellyby raises money for, I think, schools and coffee farms in Africa, but I'm not 100% sure on that. I'm not sure why Bleak House was his best selling, except that it's a good one! What are your theories?

[@SunriseFireberry]

Some say BH was his 1st mature novel & had more time to be peddled than DC, OMF, Great X, etc., rich in language & delivers a complex plot. Others say people liked reading about legal system bashing. Maybe they're both right. How do you see Tulk. not as a villain?

[@colorswordsandlearning]

I agree with Dickens in that Mrs.Jelleby was a neglectful parent ,and regardless of gender,a person who neglects and ignores ,her or his children has no right to be all that taken up by people in Africa. One ,the way native is said,and the way Mrs.Jellleby is so intent on "civilizing " them... she has no right to that either..who is she to de ide what they should or should not learn or do?Who isshe to go to a new land and set uphouse there and tell the people of the land what they must do or not? So in both sense I do not like Mrs.Jelleby...gender does not matter to me.. If she was a he and was as neglectful of his home and children ,I would be as critical... I don't know what Dicken intended..but I personally do not like people(male or female) who talks and does so much for people they have not even met, when she or he neglects and ignores their family ,esp children... Cozcharity does begin at home..and that's really irresponsible of them... To act so intellectual yet be so devoid of honest kindness and generosity...feels hypocritical... Such persons should then not have kids who depend on them.. Really look at Caddy and her siblings...left at the mercy of such parents..

[@katiejlumsden]

Yeah, Mrs Jellyby's not great, is she? Still, I find the ways Dickens chooses to criticise her interesting on a gender level - he's regularly critical of her neglecting her own appearance, etc. She is also held solely responsible for the chaos of her children, rather than her husband who kind of just sits there....

[@fredwild2166]

Simplistic hollow feminist blather!

[@58angieb]

Then why are you here then,? SOD off, Misogynist Fred! 🤭