# Mr. Snagsby — Bleak House character guide

> Mr. Snagsby in Bleak House by Charles Dickens.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Snagsby, young Snagsby

**First appearance:** 0010-ix-signs-and-tokens

## Snapshot

A mild, poetic law stationer in Cook's Court, henpecked at home and quietly pulled into the Chancery mystery against his will.

## Who they are

Snagsby runs a modest stationer's shop, loves to muse about old London and country brooks, and lives under the jealous eye of his suspicious wife. His timid decency makes him an easy mark for lawyers and conspirators who need a witness or a small favor. He matters because his ordinary shop sits at the crossroads of the novel's legal and criminal threads.

## Relationships

### [Sir Leicester Dedlock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/sir_leicester_dedlock)

_professional_

Mr. Snagsby, a law stationer, is drawn into the Dedlock affairs through his work and the murder investigation.

### [Sir Leicester Dedlock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/sir_leicester_dedlock)

_professional_

Mr. Snagsby, a law stationer, is drawn into the Dedlock affairs through his work and the murder investigation.

## In the story

### [X: The Law-Writer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/x-the-law-writer)

The mild, timid law-stationer who runs his shop in Cook's Court, dominated by his wife.

### [Our Dear Brother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xi-our-dear-brother)

Assists at the inquest, providing information about Nemo's copying work and his arrival at Krook's.

### [Moving On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xix-moving-on)

Pleads with the constable not to lock up Jo, urging him to move on.

### [Mr. Bucket](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxii-mr-bucket)

Visits Mr. Tulkinghorn to recount his story, nervously deferring to the lawyer and mentioning his wife's inquisitiveness.

### [Mrs. Snagsby Sees It All](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxv-mrs-snagsby-sees-it-all)

Tormented by guilt and fear over a secret involving Mr. Bucket, Jo, and Mr. Tulkinghorn; he is haunted by nightmares and constantly watched by his wife.

### [The Appointed Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxii-the-appointed-time)

The stationer is also uneasy, haunted by the secret he shares, and stops to talk with Weevle about the strange smell and the deceased.

### [Interlopers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xxxiii-interlopers)

Arrives at the scene, distressed and questioned by his wife about the events.

### [In Mr. Tulkinghorn's Chambers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlii-in-mr-tulkinghorn-s-chambers)

Visits Mr. Tulkinghorn to complain about Hortense's visits to his shop and the jealousy of his wife.

### [XLVII: Jo’s Will](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/chapters/xlvii-jo-s-will)

Visited by Allan, he is fearful of his wife and reluctantly agrees to see Jo.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters/mr_snagsby
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/bleak_house_se/characters