Bleak House by Charles Dickens

A long-running court case, Jarndyce and Jarndyce, traps generations in legal limbo, draining their fortunes and hopes. At its center is Esther Summerson, a kind-hearted orphan whose mysterious parentage slowly comes to light. The story weaves through a sprawling cast—corrupt lawyers, scheming social climbers, tragic lovers—revealing the rot at the heart of Victorian institutions. The plot moves between satire, mystery, and moral drama. It’s a brilliant, layered critique of the legal system and society’s failings.