# Bleak House — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

- [Bleak House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/bleak-house.md): The chapter introduces the foggy, muddy atmosphere of London and the Court of Chancery, where the endless Jarndyce and Jarndyce case consumes lives. We meet characters like Mr. Tulkinghorn, Lady Dedlock, and the wards of
- [In Chancery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/i-in-chancery.md): The chapter opens with a vivid description of London in November, shrouded in fog and mud, which serves as a metaphor for the Court of Chancery. The court is depicted as a labyrinthine, corrupt institution where the endl
- [In Fashion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/ii-in-fashion.md): The chapter contrasts the world of fashion with the Court of Chancery, both being realms of precedent and usage. Lady Dedlock, bored with her dreary Lincolnshire estate, has returned to her townhouse. Sir Leicester Dedlo
- [A Progress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/iii-a-progress.md): Esther Summerson receives a letter from Kenge and Carboy summoning her to London to become a ward in Jarndyce and Jarndyce. She leaves her school, where she is beloved, and travels to London, experiencing a dense fog. Sh
- [Telescopic Philanthropy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/iv-telescopic-philanthropy.md): Esther, Ada, and Richard spend the night at the chaotic home of Mrs. Jellyby, a philanthropist so absorbed in African colonization that she neglects her own family. Esther observes the disarray, cares for the neglected c

> 64 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=bleak_house_1593kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [A Morning Adventure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/v-a-morning-adventure.md)
- [Quite at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/vi-quite-at-home.md)
- [The Ghost's Walk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/vii-the-ghost-s-walk.md)
- [Covering a Multitude of Sins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/viii-covering-a-multitude-of-sins.md)
- [Signs and Tokens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/ix-signs-and-tokens.md)
- [X: The Law-Writer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/x-the-law-writer.md)
- [Our Dear Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xi-our-dear-brother.md)
- [XII: On the Watch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xii-on-the-watch.md)
- [XIII: Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xiii-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Deportment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xiv-deportment.md)
- [Bell Yard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xv-bell-yard.md)
- [Tom-All-Alone’s](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xvi-tom-all-alone-s.md)
- [XVII: Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xvii-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Lady Dedlock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xviii-lady-dedlock.md)
- [Moving On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xix-moving-on.md)
- [A New Lodger](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xx-a-new-lodger.md)
- [The Smallweed Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxi-the-smallweed-family.md)
- [Mr. Bucket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxii-mr-bucket.md)
- [Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxiii-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [An Appeal Case](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxiv-an-appeal-case.md)
- [Mrs. Snagsby Sees It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxv-mrs-snagsby-sees-it-all.md)
- [Sharpshooters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxvi-sharpshooters.md)
- [More Old Soldiers Than One](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxvii-more-old-soldiers-than-one.md)
- [The Ironmaster](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxviii-the-ironmaster.md)
- [The Young Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxix-the-young-man.md)
- [Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxx-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Nurse and Patient](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxi-nurse-and-patient.md)
- [The Appointed Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxii-the-appointed-time.md)
- [Interlopers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxiii-interlopers.md)
- [A Turn of the Screw](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxiv-a-turn-of-the-screw.md)
- [XXXV: Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxv-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Chesney Wold](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxvi-chesney-wold.md)
- [Jarndyce and Jarndyce](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxvii-jarndyce-and-jarndyce.md)
- [A Struggle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-struggle.md)
- [Attorney and Client](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxix-attorney-and-client.md)
- [National and Domestic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xl-national-and-domestic.md)
- [In Mr. Tulkinghorn’s Room](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xli-in-mr-tulkinghorn-s-room.md)
- [In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Chambers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlii-in-mr-tulkinghorn-s-chambers.md)
- [XLIII: Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xliii-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [XLIV: The Letter and the Answer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xliv-the-letter-and-the-answer.md)
- [XLV: In Trust](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlv-in-trust.md)
- [XLVI: Stop Him!](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlvi-stop-him.md)
- [XLVII: Jo’s Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlvii-jo-s-will.md)
- [XLVIII: Closing In](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlviii-closing-in.md)
- [Dutiful Friendship](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlix-dutiful-friendship.md)
- [L: Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/l-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Enlightened](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/li-enlightened.md)
- [LII: Obstinacy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lii-obstinacy.md)
- [The Track](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/liii-the-track.md)
- [Springing a Mine](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/liv-springing-a-mine.md)
- [Flight](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lv-flight.md)
- [LVI: Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lvi-pursuit.md)
- [Chapter LVII: Esther's Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lvii-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [LVIII: A Wintry Day and Night](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lviii-a-wintry-day-and-night.md)
- [LIX: Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lix-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Perspective](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lx-perspective.md)
- [A Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxi-a-discovery.md)
- [Another Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxii-another-discovery.md)
- [Steel and Iron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxiii-steel-and-iron.md)
- [LXIV: Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxiv-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [LXV: Beginning the World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxv-beginning-the-world.md)
- [Down in Lincolnshire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxvi-down-in-lincolnshire.md)
- [The Close of Esther’s Narrative](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/lxvii-the-close-of-esther-s-narrative.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters