Day Twenty-Seven

4/27

The Book: Bleak House by Charles Dickens

ISBN: 978-1-59308-311-3

Suggested By: Rebecca Mitchell

Where: Home

When: 9:40-10:20P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 590 - 645 (55)

The Lead In: Ah, Death visits our poor son of the streets today, as I write this a little way in to today’s reading. Swine flu is on the loose in Mexico and poor Jo is dying in England. Sad days are upon us.

The 411 on the 55: Mr. Woodcourt, friend and admirer of Esther, passing through the poor part of town, runs into Jo. He is freaked out and hounded by the people seeking information on Nemo. He is taken to Mr. George’s firing range, but dies soon after. Touching scene actually. Best use of poetic style by Dickens up to this point.

Lady Dedlock sends her maid away, to protect her from the impending doom of her secret being revealed and, in response, Mr. Tulkinghorn threatens to tell everyone. He leaves the estate, but someone shoots him in the night at his apartment. The next day, Mr. George is arrested for the murder. Nice twist there.

Caddy has taken sick and Esther begins visiting her daily. Her situation looks bleak and Mr. Jarndyce recommends switching doctors, to Mr. Woodcourt. ( I can see where this is headed.) He brings Caddy back to health. 

The last section of today’s reading focuses on Ada. She seems to be keeping some secret work, which I surmise to have something to do with Richard, who is a bag of dog crap.

Line of the Day: “Dead, your Majesty. Dead, my lords and gentlemen. Dead, Right Reverends and Wrong Reverends of every order. Dead, men and women, born with Heavenly compassion in your hears. And dying thus around us every day.” pg 610

The Fact on the Fiction: In Bleak House, Mr. Krook dies due to suspicious circumstances, leading people to assume that he combusted. Spontaneous human combustion (SHC) is the burning of the human body without an external source of ignition. There is speculation and controversy regarding SHC. There are about 200 cited cases worldwide over a period of around 300 years; however, most of the alleged cases are characterised by the lack of a thorough investigation, or are based on hearsay. In many of the more recent cases, where photographic evidence is available, it is alleged that there was an external source of heat present (often cigarettes), and nothing occurred 'spontaneously'. Wikipedia