I don't know why this book isn't one of the more popular Dickens. As a Catholic I thought it a bit harsh to have him portray a devious Catholic as being behind much of the anti-Catholic sentiment and riots of the time,but I enjoyed Grip and thought the story had some of the most filmable elements of dickens. ( )

...so do things pass away, like a tale that is told!
(location 64782)

The thoughts of worldly men are for ever regulated by a moral law of gravitation, which, like the physical one, holds them down to earth. The bright glory of day, and the silent wonders of a starlit night, appeal to their minds in vain. There are no signs in the sun, or in the moon, or in the stars, for their reading. They are like some wise men, who, learning to know each planet by its Latin name, have quite forgotten such small heavenly constellations as Charity, Forbearance, Universal Love, and Mercy, although they shine by night and day so brightly that the blind may see them; and who, looking upward at the spangled sky, see nothing there but the reflection of their own great wisdom and book-learning.
(location 70151) ( )

Add Fox "News" and you have today's American political milieu. ( )

This tale is sort of Romeo and Juliet set in the time of the Gordon Riots between Protestents & Catholics. Of course, as usual with Dickens, there are plenty of subplots and interesting characters. ( )

It was no good I had to give up. I tried, I really tried but it seems that there is a reason BR is the least known of Dickens. It's really, really boring. I got half way via audiobook and had lost will to live. I then tried via text and got to about page 450, trying to do a chapter a day. But even that was a chore - so I am DNFing. I just couldn't take it anymore. ( )

This is said to be one of the two historical novels written by Dickens; the first being A Tale of Two Cities. While I love A Tale of Two Cities, I didn't really love Barnaby Rudge. It could be I was not familiar with the Gordon Riots of 1780 and did not pick up on nuances that may have been contained within the book. There were so many characters that by half way through the book, I was lost! I continued to read, hoping to just make it though chapter by chapter, understanding just a chapter at a time and not necessarily the entire book! I hate to read that way. But, 8 months later, I'm finished! The character of Barnaby Rudge, the village idiot, is not central to the story, but just a way to advance the plot. He also carries a raven, and Poe (according to reading) modeled his The Raven after this particular one. Other than being ravens, I did not see any more connections. Can't really recommend this one! 637 pages ( )

Historical novel that takes place at the time of the Gordon Riots, when Protestants who hated Catholics so much, wanted them all dead and their property destroyed.
The character of Barnaby Rudge stole my heart; he's not the only one, though. Dickens knows how to create characters that we grow to love, and anguish for, and are uplifted by when things come out alright for them. The author certainly didn't skimp on any of that, in this work. ( )

The Gordon Riots: the beginning of Anarchy in the UK! Dickens' "other" historical novel and actually much better than the other one. I have to admit I mainly read this because of my interest in the Gordon Riots. The usual cast of characters and tangled histories set against the backdrop of the 1780 anti-Catholic riots in England.

Actually a much better novel than its reputation. Marred by a weak sympathetic happy ending that could have been much more profound if it had been allowed to play out as it should have, but Dickens was still somewhat of a sop to the masses at this point so he took the easy way with his audience. ( )

Gafst upp á þessu stórvirki. Söguþráðurinn alltof hægur og óáhugaverður. Eflaust ágætis saga hvers söguhetju er svipaður Forrest Gump og Lenny í Mýs og menn. ( )

Based on the London anti-Catholic riots in 1780 in opposition to the introduction of a bill to repeal certain articles of legal discrimination imposed on Catholics by the Popery Act of 1698 and others. This and Tale of Two Cities are his two novels centered on historical incidents.

Not the best of Dickens. Reads like he was being paid by the word. Oh, he was. Would make a good PBS series. Good depiction of mob action.

Edgar Allan Poe wrote a perceptive essay on Barnaby Rudge. See Volume 7 of his Works, Charles Scribner's Sons, 1914. Free at archiv.org

Barnaby's raven was an inspiration for Poe's poem "The Raven". ( )

There are some really evil characters in this book. It is a historical novel, based on anti-catholic riots in London during the 1790's. With a Dickensian twist.

( )

Dickens' books typically abound with coincidences but they will usually be explained. Not here. Dickens didn't explain how Varden the locksmith came to be friends with Haredale (you do wonder because of their different backgrounds), how Edward Chester came to be friends with the locksmith's family and how Edward joined up with Joe Willet in the midst of the riots. Also, Dickens didn't explain how Hugh took away Dolly and Emma in the chaos of the fire (if he did, I certainly missed it). But as usual, there are some delightful scenes when the wicked get their just desserts, like Miggs and the hangman Dennis. And John Chester has to be one of the evilest men Dickens created. In addition, Dickens' description of the fire burning down Harehale's house is one to savor with his eye for details, creating a vivid image in your mind. ( )

This review is written with a GPL 4.0 license and the rights contained therein shall supersede all TOS by any and all websites in regards to copying and sharing without proper authorization and permissions. Crossposted at WordPress, Blogspot & Librarything by Bookstooge’s Exalted Permission

Title: Barnaby Rudge
Series: ----------
Author: Charles Dickens
Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Genre: Classic
Pages: 864
Format: Digital Edition

Synopsis:

Barnaby Rudge is a young man who is an idiot. He never grew up past 6 and can't remember one day from the next. He lives with his widowed mother on a stipend from Mr Haredale, the estate owner that Barnaby's father worked for before he vanished all those years ago on the night that a murder was committed.

Mr Haredale, a staunch Catholic, has a niece named Emma. Her father was the man murdered all those years ago and now Mr Haredale is her guardian. She is in love with a young man named Edward Chester, the son of Mr Chester. Mr Chester and Mr Haredale are at odds with one another and neither guardian nor father want the match to happen. Emma also has a companion named Dolly Varden.

Dolly Varden lives in London with her father and mother. Her father is a jolly blacksmith while her mother is one of those creatures that only Dickens can bring to the page. Gabriel Varden has an apprentice, one Simon Tappertitt, who is in love with Dolly, hates Gabriel for some reason and thinks he is the most beautiful specimen of manhood to ever exist. Dolly is in love with Joe Willet.

Joe Willet is a young man whose father runs the Maypole, an inn that belongs to Mr Haredale. Joe Willet Sr is constantly treating Joe Jr like a boy and eventually Joe runs away and joins the army.

The main story is about how all of these characters interact through the 5 years leading up to the riots in 1780 in London, where a mob ran riot for several days in protest against Catholics and Catholicism. Barnaby is dragged into it, not knowing any better. Joe has returned from America (where he fought against American Independence, boo hiss!) and Edward Chester has returned from the Continent after having learned to make his living. Simon Tappertitt kidnaps Dolly and Emma during the riots, gets his just desserts and becomes a legless beggar by the end of the story. Mr Haredale and Mr Chester have a duel in which Chester dies. Mr Haredale gives his blessing and fortune to Emma and Edward. Joe Jr returns with an arm missing and his father starts treating him like an adult. Joe Jr and Dolly get married and run the Maypole together. Barnaby goes to jail for participating in the riots and is about to be hung when he gets a pardon because Joe Jr and Edward Chester work like the dickens (ha!) to get him free.

My Thoughts:

This was not plot oriented at all. Given, most of Dickens' books center around his characters, but this one more so. The Riot of '80 was the event that tied this all together.

I enjoyed this but it took me over 2 weeks to work my way through. I'd read a chapter and then put the book down for the rest of the day. Given, Mrs B was away for a family visit and I was dealing with job interviews and thinking about the future, so I was obviously distracted but still, I had to concentrate to pick this up.

I really don't know what else to say. If you enjoy Dickens, you'll enjoy this. This is probably not the book to start a Dickens Journey of Discovery though. This wasn't quite as organic as some of Dickens other books and it shows. That is why I kept this at 4stars like last time.

I can say that one needs uninterrupted time, without stress or pressure, to fully appreciate Dickens. If one is harried, distracted and busy, it takes away from the experience.

★★★★☆ ( )

A neglected gem. After the slog that was "Dombey and Son" it was good to read a Dickens I could enjoy. In this case, it's one of his few historical novels and one of his most tightly-plotted works. The anti-Catholic Gordon Riots are described with outrage, but there's the lingering sense that Dickens never examined his own anti-Catholic sentiments too deeply, and the curt offstage death of a good Catholic man suggests that his supply of outrage for persecuted Catholics had its limits. Be that as it may, the novel is a good one: part historical, part murder mystery, part romance. It moves along at a steady clip without the longueurs you sometimes find in Victorian novels. His long accounts of the riots--and in particular his description of a mob--are terrific. ( )

This, truly, is an amazing book. My edition had illustrations on many of the pages, but it still ran to over 700 pages in length. Part of me considers just sticking with this book a significant accomplishment! But in all seriousness, this tome is a monument to observations, to knowledge of human motivations, and to mob rule.

The first half is, of course, full of Dickensian characters. For me, getting through the first 100 pages, ending with the painting of the character of Hugh, was a hurdle. I can honestly say that a reader can stick with this portion and will find joy and relief in the latter half of the book. The maidens are full of distress and loveliness, the men are jovial and satirical, but Dickens is able to twist the knife in the character of his own father by naming two horrible men, who happen to be fathers of sons John." Both men have good sons, and neither father is deserving of such good sons.

But within the details of the characters lies less satire or over-the-top descriptions and much more malice and true goodness. The character of Barnaby is kind and quaint, the character of Dolly Vickens is sweet and . . . flirtatious without caring whether she breaks men's hearts. The character of Mrs. Vickens is brilliantly martyred (helped by her lady's maid) . . . with an undercurrent of vindictiveness. And Simon Tippertit is almost, but not quite, a spoof of the hapless apprentice . . . until he joins with the apprentice "court" and becomes a court favorite by his similarly uncaring ways.

Then we get to the second half and the Gordon Riots of 1780. I had not known these riots existed, even, and they are brilliantly described in their horrible detail: the sound made by the mob is consistently referred to with water imagery (some earth imagery might also have been good, or references to an avalanche), the destruction they cause is described in horrible detail, and their motivations for destroying the churches? Well, religion is the excuse but hatred and vengeance and a need to get back it others is the real reason. Dickens' descriptions of the "false enthusiasm and vanity of being a leader" as Lord Gordon's foundation for his personality are spot-on, and the methods to motivate a crowd, not by standing on London Bridge and "calling till . . . hoarse . . . might have influenced a score of people in a month. . . . But when vague rumors got abroad, that in this Protestant association a secret power was mustering against the government for undefined and mighty purposes; . . . then the mania spread indeed and the body . . . grew forty thousand strong." These are the truest words about vain and weak leaders that I've read yet. ( )

Not the very best of Dickens but still very good. It has all of his strengths and weaknesses, especially an over sentimentalised ending. It starts to have some longueurs towards the middle but then the Gordon Riots kick in and the narrative becomes all action. ( )

Dickens' great strength is his characters, and in this he creates another couple of gems. Gabriel Varden is a real salt of the earth type, down to earth, upright, principled as honest as the day is long and caught up in events beyond his control. By contrast, his apprentice is a slimy weasel of a man and is not worthy of the locksmith's daughter. The title character is an idiot, but not completely without sense. He's endearing enough that you do care about him. Set in the midst of the Gordon riots of the 1780s, this is a history, being written somewhat later. There's lots of weighty matters in here, crime and punishment, he death penalty, the way that a mob mentality can take over, manipulation of people and events for personal revenge, the works. There's a reason Dickens is still read today, it's because he captures the entire of the human condition. ( )

Barnaby Rudge is one of Dickens’s two historical novels (the other being A Tale of Two Cities). This one is based on the anti-Catholic Gordon riots that occurred in London in 1780. The first third of the book introduces us to all the characters and doesn’t seem to have much point other than that. The last two-thirds of the book are about how each of the characters experiences the riots and deals with the aftermath.

This was not one of Dickens’s more enjoyable works, although it’s not bad. I really struggled with it until I looked up the historical background of the Gordon riots and then it all made sense. I also think that there are some interesting parallels between this period of history and some of the things happening around the world today. The main reason that I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of his other novels is that there wasn’t a lot of comic relief. In most of Dickens’s books, there’s one character who is absolutely hilarious. In Barnaby Rudge there were a couple of characters who were funny, but there wasn’t that one character who blows everyone else away. Overall, this probably isn’t the best novel to read if you’re only a casual Dickens reader, but if you’re a big fan of his or if you’re interested in the historical aspect, it’s worth reading. ( )

Dickens introduces this novel with several chapters of pure fiction set in 1775, laying out two romance plots and a murder mystery. Then the story jumps ahead five years to the Gordon Riots of 1780 when historical events take over the plot, catching up his characters in the turmoil. There's good understanding shown here of how a mob gathers, acts, and is reacted to. This was Dickens' first crack at writing historical fiction and he used several sources to get the details right. Significant characters in the novel (e.g. Lord Gordon) were real people, and their personalities are believed to be accurately portrayed.

If this is Dickens' least popular novel, I blame its title character. Barnaby is an innocent simpleton whose cognitive abilities slide up and down the scale as the plot demands. He's a rare personality that Dickens could not get a handle on, or at least was less true in portraying for the sake of directing his story. He was also Dickens' third variant on the helpless innocent motif, following Oliver and Little Nell, and the most shallow even by that comparison. From the first page we meet him he is living a vacant-minded idyllic life, and almost nothing shakes him from it. It's as flat a character arc as you might imagine.

The book isn't really about Barnaby, however, despite its title, since there's nothing central about him and he remains a sideshow in his own story. The secondary plot romances are far more engaging and often feel primary. Only thematically can I find a purpose for Barnaby, where he serves as an extreme symbol of disparity between mob mentality and the individuals that comprise it. Potential blame for this novel's being unpopular might also lie with the subject matter. How many people outside England today have heard of the Gordon Riots, or can imagine Protestant extremists? On the other hand riots, political unrest and religious angst are abundantly relevant in our modern context. This work could find new relevance with its reminder that there is nothing new under the sun. ( )

A mixture of fact and fiction and an indication of things yet to come. The historical perspective of A Tale of Two Cities plus a hint of future plot manipulation and twists and turns best exemplified by Great Expectations. The Gordon Riots of 1780 is the backdrop, but as always, human nature is paramount to the tale. Religion was not the important factor to these characters. Despite the cries of 'No Popery,' each and everyone had a hidden agenda. The character of Barnaby himself was less than consistent in tone, but most of the characters were very well-drawn and, frankly, the female characters were a breath of fresh air after that insipid Nell. Overall, a good read. ( )

Typical Dickens - beautifully drawn characters, both heroes and villains and brilliant descriptions of London and its surrounds. Enjoyable, but overly long. ( )

4 stars for the book; 4½ stars for this audiobook.

This tale is sort of Romeo and Juliet set in the time of the Gordon Riots between Protestents & Catholics. Of course, as usual with Dickens, there are plenty of subplots and interesting characters.

Mil Nicholson once again is marvelous in this Librivox recording of Dickens. Highly recommended. ( )

This is Dickens fifth novel and it was his first attempt to write an historical novel and was inspired by the Walter Scott's novels.

In the first chapters, Dickens describes the Maypole and introduces the main characters: Gabriel Varden with his wife and his daughter, Simon Tappertit, John and Joe Willet, Solomon Daisy, the Haredales, the Rudges and a mysterious stranger.

Maypole Inn in the village of Chigwell:



A hint of mystery is also inserted in these initial chapters through the Haredale murder. And a black raven gives a gothic touch into the narrative. Just to remind that a black raven has a special meaning in literature.

It seems that "Barbaby Rudge" was published first in Dickens's weekly journal Master Humphrey's Clock in 1841.



In some editions, the original tittle of this book was "Gabriel Vardon, the Locksmith of London."

One you start to read the description of the Gordon Riots, you won't be able to stop to read this book.

Page 116:
The despisers of mankind--apart from the mere fools and mimics, of that creed--are of two sorts. They who believe their merit neglected and unappreciated, make up one class; they who receive adulation and flattery, knowing their own worthlessness, compose the other. Be sure that the coldest-hearted misanthropes are ever of this last order.

Page 138:
So do the shadows of our own desires stand between us and our better angels, and thus their brightness is eclipsed.

Page 222:
In the exhaustless catalogue of Heaven's mercies to mankind, the power we have of finding some germs of comfort in the hardest trials must ever occupy the foremost place...

Page 244:
'All good friends to our cause, I hope will be particular, and do no injury to the property of any true Protestant. I am well assured that the proprietor of this house is a staunch and worthy friend to the cause. GEORGE GORDON.'

Page 251:
The great mass never reasoned or thought at all, but were stimulated by their own headlong passions, by poverty, by ignorance, by the love of mischief, and the hope of plunder.

The historical description of the Gordon Riots can be found at:

Victorian Web

Wikipedia

A Web of English History

Charles Dickens Page

A TV series was made based on this magnificent book:

TV Series (1960)



An interesting historical reference: The Gordon Riots: Politics, Culture and Insurrection in Late Eighteenth-Century Britain by Ian Haywood and John Seed. ( )

This is Dickens fifth novel and it was his first attempt to write an historical novel and was inspired by the Walter Scott's novels.

In the first chapters, Dickens describes the Maypole and introduces the main characters: Gabriel Varden with his wife and his daughter, Simon Tappertit, John and Joe Willet, Solomon Daisy, the Haredales, the Rudges and a mysterious stranger.

Maypole Inn in the village of Chigwell:



A hint of mystery is also inserted in these initial chapters through the Haredale murder. And a black raven gives a gothic touch into the narrative. Just to remind that a black raven has a special meaning in literature.

It seems that "Barbaby Rudge" was published first in Dickens's weekly journal Master Humphrey's Clock in 1841.



In some editions, the original tittle of this book was "Gabriel Vardon, the Locksmith of London."

One you start to read the description of the Gordon Riots, you won't be able to stop to read this book.

Page 116:
The despisers of mankind--apart from the mere fools and mimics, of that creed--are of two sorts. They who believe their merit neglected and unappreciated, make up one class; they who receive adulation and flattery, knowing their own worthlessness, compose the other. Be sure that the coldest-hearted misanthropes are ever of this last order.

Page 138:
So do the shadows of our own desires stand between us and our better angels, and thus their brightness is eclipsed.

Page 222:
In the exhaustless catalogue of Heaven's mercies to mankind, the power we have of finding some germs of comfort in the hardest trials must ever occupy the foremost place...

Page 244:
'All good friends to our cause, I hope will be particular, and do no injury to the property of any true Protestant. I am well assured that the proprietor of this house is a staunch and worthy friend to the cause. GEORGE GORDON.'

Page 251:
The great mass never reasoned or thought at all, but were stimulated by their own headlong passions, by poverty, by ignorance, by the love of mischief, and the hope of plunder.

The historical description of the Gordon Riots can be found at:

Victorian Web

Wikipedia

A Web of English History

Charles Dickens Page

A TV series was made based on this magnificent book:

TV Series (1960)



An interesting historical reference: The Gordon Riots: Politics, Culture and Insurrection in Late Eighteenth-Century Britain by Ian Haywood and John Seed. ( )

This is Dickens fifth novel and it was his first attempt to write an historical novel and was inspired by the Walter Scott's novels.

In the first chapters, Dickens describes the Maypole and introduces the main characters: Gabriel Varden with his wife and his daughter, Simon Tappertit, John and Joe Willet, Solomon Daisy, the Haredales, the Rudges and a mysterious stranger.

Maypole Inn in the village of Chigwell:



A hint of mystery is also inserted in these initial chapters through the Haredale murder. And a black raven gives a gothic touch into the narrative. Just to remind that a black raven has a special meaning in literature.

It seems that "Barbaby Rudge" was published first in Dickens's weekly journal Master Humphrey's Clock in 1841.



In some editions, the original tittle of this book was "Gabriel Vardon, the Locksmith of London."

One you start to read the description of the Gordon Riots, you won't be able to stop to read this book.

Page 116:
The despisers of mankind--apart from the mere fools and mimics, of that creed--are of two sorts. They who believe their merit neglected and unappreciated, make up one class; they who receive adulation and flattery, knowing their own worthlessness, compose the other. Be sure that the coldest-hearted misanthropes are ever of this last order.

Page 138:
So do the shadows of our own desires stand between us and our better angels, and thus their brightness is eclipsed.

Page 222:
In the exhaustless catalogue of Heaven's mercies to mankind, the power we have of finding some germs of comfort in the hardest trials must ever occupy the foremost place...

Page 244:
'All good friends to our cause, I hope will be particular, and do no injury to the property of any true Protestant. I am well assured that the proprietor of this house is a staunch and worthy friend to the cause. GEORGE GORDON.'

Page 251:
The great mass never reasoned or thought at all, but were stimulated by their own headlong passions, by poverty, by ignorance, by the love of mischief, and the hope of plunder.

The historical description of the Gordon Riots can be found at:

Victorian Web

Wikipedia

A Web of English History

Charles Dickens Page

A TV series was made based on this magnificent book:

TV Series (1960)



An interesting historical reference: The Gordon Riots: Politics, Culture and Insurrection in Late Eighteenth-Century Britain by Ian Haywood and John Seed. ( )