Abstract: Charles Dickens's depiction of the filthy environment of London's slums in Bleak House is closely related to the “miasma theory” that was quite influential at that time. This theory identified the polluted air as the primary culprit for the “epidemic diseases” and, therefore, promoted the reform of the urban sanitary system during the Victorian era. As an active participant in this reform, Dickens wrote extensively about miasma in Bleak House, aiming to alert the citizens to the urgency of resolving the issues related to urban sanitation. The novel not only delineates the inseparable connection between sanitary living conditions, public health, and moral standards, but also uses “epidemic diseases” to explore the interconnectedness and the common destiny among the London residents.

Key words: Bleak House, sanitary reform, epidemic diseases