In the fourth instalment ofBleak House, written just before the 1852 general election, Dickens sardonically linked his sombre title to the dismaying situation in British politics:

Supposing the present Government to be overthrown, the limited choice of the Crown, in the formation of a new ministry, would lie between Lord Coodle and Sir Thomas Doodle – supposing it to be impossible for the Duke of Foodle to act with Goodle, which may be assumed to be the case in consequence of the breach arising out of that affair with Hoodle. Then, giving the Home Department and the Leadership of...

I had arrived at the same conclusion with respect to Johnny’s coup d’etat, & am gratified that my view is sanctioned by one of yr. acumen & knowledge of circumstances and / persons.¹ The fact is, the government have entirely changed their foreign policy: under ordinary circumstances, instead of making a victim of the Secretary of state, they shd. have resigned. I assume therefore from Ld. John’s conduct, that, after / our self-confessed incapacity of last February, he & the Court no longer recognise us as a practical power in the state.

I return you L’s letter.² When he objects to the prominence...