Charles Dickens, "Bleak House"

[stapsreads]

I've had a soft spot for Bleak House ever since I read it in my second year of university and discovered that Dickens was not all dire school productions of Oliver! and interminable dramatic readings of A Christmas Carol. That said, reading it now I find it more problematic than I did then. Particularly as I've become more involved in activism (of various stripes, but especially feminist) the portrayal of Mrs Jellyby and her friends has become increasingly infuriating. It's very sad that Dickens, who did so much for the poor, dismisses the efforts of many remarkable women as caricatures. Also more obvious as I get older is my sense that Mr Jarndyce is, in some ways, a rather creepy old man, though thank goodness he does the decent thing. (I remember debating this one in seminars: did Dickens mean him to be creepy?)

Generally enjoyed the re-read, though.

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/10120410/