In the notes for Chapter Three, he mentions one of the principal secrets of the book, the revelation of which pretty nearly marks the novel's halfway point, and certainly defines much of the central action. As both a reader and a writer, the illumination provided by the notes only added to the esteem I felt for Mr. Dickens.

These days, some authors make it a point to explain their writing process in detail. Personally, I think writers lose something of their magic when they talk too much about their own writing. In this case, however, Dickens is such a towering figure and the notes are so brief, it only adds to the mysticism. It's like finding the wizard's spell book, but only recognizing every other word.

As I neared the end of the book, however, there was one criticism that continually niggled in my mind, despite my admiration. The more I read, the more difficult it became for me to find Esther Summerson believable. Esther is one of the main characters; indeed, she is one of the two narrators. She is writing as though she were telling the story of her life to an unknown someone.

What bothers me is that she shows almost no negative emotion of any kind. No anger, no bitterness, no regret. Her whole character is directed outward. She is a teacher, a housekeeper, and a mentor, constantly concerned for those around her. She refuses to let herself feel sorry or sad for her situation. She shows plenty of emotion — she sobbed more times than I could count — but it is always over the difficulties of others.

I'm probably going to sound like a cynic here, but she just ends up being too good, too caring. Having spent so much time with her and never seeing her truly let her guard down (which I suppose is the Victorian way) left me a little frustrated. While all the other characters experience change on some level, Esther's personality stays relatively static. Of course, that may just be the point. Perhaps she remains so constant in order to serve as the axis, around which all the action rotates.

I understand now why so many people love Dickens. I understand, too, why so many others are afraid of him. In Bleak House, the writing is engaging and the story fascinatingly complex. So many lives become so interconnected that the reader can't help but become one of them. At the same time, the novel has the power to overwhelm for those very same reasons. To the casual, modern day reader, a work this long seems out of reach. If you stop to consider its origins, however, and allow yourself to take your time, I think you'll find the company of Bleak House and Mr. Dickens more than satisfactory.