Books

First edition, bound from the original monthly parts as first published between March 1852 and September 1853. "Writing at the height of his powers, Dickens adopts a virtuoso form of double narration, and the novel has since the middle of the twentieth century been widely acclaimed as his greatest work" (ODNB). "The satire of Bleak House focuses on the obfuscations and delays of the court of chancery which result in widespread human misery and suffering, but the novel's complicated plot and centripetal organization bring into the picture a great cross-section of contemporary English society" (ODNB). Of note is the inclusion of ten dark plates, a new mode of illustration particularly fitting to the novel: "As Dickens's vision of society darkened, Browne adjusted his techniques, pioneering in the use of 'dark plates', where the plate was machine-ruled in parallel grooves which printed an almost uniform tone either before or after the figures and background were hand drawn. These brooding, atmospheric designs harmonized with the gloomy, foggy world of Bleak House and Little Dorrit" (Schlicke, p. 59). Octavo (207 x 133 mm). Contemporary half calf, spine with raised bands, compartments ruled and with floral decoration in gilt, brown morocco label, marbled paper sides, endpapers, and edges Etched frontispiece, vignette title page, and 38 plates (including the 10 "dark" plates) by "Phiz" (H. K. Browne). 19th-century engraved bookplate of William Hugh Wade-Gery (died 1870) to front pastedown. Light bumping and wear, wormholes to head and foot of rear joint, small strip to foot of front cover, light foxing throughout: a very good copy. Eckel, p. 79; Hatton & Cleaver, pp. 275-304; Kremers, pp. 100-3; Smith I, 10. Paul Schlicke. ed., The Oxford Companion to Charles Dickens, 2001.

Bleak House is a novel by Charles Dickens, originally published as a serial between March 1852 and September 1853. It is considered one of his finest works, containing a vast, complex plot and an extraordinary number of characters.