A most unlikely hero is introduced by Charles Dickens in his 1840 published historical novel Barnaby Rudge.

Few authors have ever attempted to record the likes of Barnaby. (Two, however, come to mind: John Steinbeck’s Lenny in Of Mice and Men and Winston Groom’s Forrest in Forrest Gump.)

Barnaby Rudge is a novel of epic proportions, consisting of 920 pages. It loosely relates the actions occurring in the Gordon Riots of 1780.

Barnaby is a trusting, simple-minded young man with a big heart. He is easily talked into situations far beyond his control. The character really moved me, and I believe that this is Dickens’ most emotional and possibly dramatic work.

It is my contention that a unique trademark of nineteenth-century literary fiction is the importance of storytelling. This storytelling aspect drastically outweighs the action and plot importance that appears more dominant in later twentieth and early twenty-first-century novels. Barnaby Rudge is a good example of this assertion.

Another mark of 19th-century novels is how something is stated often outweighs what is said. This gives the work, as a whole, a sort of poetic quality. The colloquy used in these novels gives a good idea of how the spoken language has evolved downward over time.

If you’d asked me what I recalled from my initial reading of this perhaps least-read of Dickens’s works, I would’ve mentioned Grip, young Barnaby’s pet raven (and the inspiration for Poe’s “Nevermore”-intoning bird), along with amorphous impressions of the fantastic mob scenes.

During my reread, upon the first introduction of Hugh, a stablehand at the Maypole inn, my memory promptly slotted him with Barnaby and Grip. However, I was then astonished by Hugh’s subsequent actions, realizing they had nothing to do with the innocent Barnaby. (Later chapters would reassure me as to why my memory had grouped the trio.)

For the penultimate meeting of the Dickens Fellowship of New Orleans this season, we were privileged to have a virtual guest lecture by Dr. Christian Lehmann on Greco-Roman mythology in Barnaby Rudge. In the novel, Hugh is described several times as a centaur, and I had assumed it was due to his animalistic nature, but I hadn’t delved deeper than that. Lehmann brought the centaur symbolism to a logical conclusion for us with something else that’s a spoiler. Reinforced by illustrations, that’s only one mythological layering Lehmann discovers in the novel.

Set during the Gordon riots, Barnaby Rudge is typically regarded as historical fiction, though Lehmann views it as mythological, as he does some of Dickens’s later novels. I eagerly anticipate reading more on the topic when Lehmann’s book is published someday. (And now I need to reread Dombey and Son and Little Dorrit with the myth of the Labyrinth in mind.)

I originally rated Barnaby Rudge 5 stars (based on my memory), and I’m certain that was because of the high I experienced from the prose, especially that of the riots. Although I now waver between four and five stars, my feelings about the prose remain unchanged. (An interesting tidbit from the Q&A with Lehmann is Dickens’s use of performative, rather than grammatical, punctuation in the sections describing the movements of the mobs.) Whether instinctively or based on his research, Dickens understood the psychological and social factors that cause mobs to become violently out of control. Some of the content is eerily similar to recent events in the U.S.

It was interesting to finish this on the same day I completed The Books of Jacob, another novel of arguably historical-fiction about a group of people being led and manipulated.

How have I never really heard of this novel - only sort of, but not with any sort of specifics? It's quite astonishing.

I don't know a writer who knows people better than Dickens. I've read a plethora of amazing writers, but, Geez, I can't get over this writing. I love that I have another favorite novel and that it is by Dickens.

His description of mobs is hair-raising and unsettling. People get caught up in the violence of mob rule for various reasons. And the "justice" that occurs when everything is over often falls on the weaker and more vulnerable, while the power brokers get away with having caused the chaos. It's all so eerily true and unfortunately resonant today.

A complaint about Dickens is often his long descriptions, but the descriptions of what happened during the Gordon Riots were riveting. And, again, the way that people behaved in particular: there are no "good guys" or "bad guys," just people, generally operating out of self-interest.

I actually vaguely remember hearing something about the Gordon Riots, but I had NO IDEA what happened - wow! Just like with so many events like this, economics is a great motivator for people to look for a scapegoat, in this case, Catholics. People get worked up, take out their angst against this perceived group of evil-doers, and the real blame falls on the powers that be. It's complicated, it's interesting, but I digress.

What did I love the most about this novel? The characters! They are all so complex and interesting. A few are hatable and remain so, but some that I wanted to scream at ended up being more complex. There were some interesting examples of BAD PARENTING and then there was Gabriel Varden, and - oh my heart! - Geoffrey Haredale (whom Dickens is going to have to answer to me about, because I think he was done dirty a bit). I LOVE Gabriel Varden, and I love Joe Willet, and - Oh! Barnaby is just such a beautifully unique and fascinating character. And I love, love, love Grip and agree with Poe that there should have been more of him. Sir John Chester is just the worst, along with a couple of others, but I'm unsettled by Dickens' attitude towards Hugh. There seems to be a little social Darwinism at work, maybe? Maybe, not. But this novel made me laugh out loud and cry and I just loved it so!

This is one of the two works of historical fiction by Dickens. The other being "A Tale of Two Cities," which is about the French revolution.

"Barnaby Rudge" is centered around the anti-Catholic Gordon riots that took place in London in 1780.

I don't believe Dickens was at his absolute best in this particular genre.

The riots don't commence until well past page 300. It is only at that point that the book truly becomes engaging (albeit with a rather slow ending). Moreover, it contains more violence and cruelty than, in my opinion, any other work by Dickens. What "Barnaby Rudge" showcases more than anything else is the mob mentality, and it's far from pleasant. As if the prejudice that instigated the riots wasn't bad enough, the supposed motivation rapidly turns into an excuse for all kinds of despicable behavior.

And in the early stages, official London seems either unable or unwilling to take any action.

"I don't know, I am sure," said the Lord Mayor; "what a pity it is you're a Catholic! Why couldn't you be a Protestant, and then you wouldn't have got yourself in such a mess? I'm sure I don't know what's to be done. -- There are great people at the bottom of these riots. -- Oh, dear me, what a thing it is to be a public character!"

A few noble characters do manage to emerge from the darkness. Chief among them is Grip, a raven. Like all ravens, Grip is intelligent, loyal, and has a mind of its own. Another of the noble characters is Barnaby Rudge. However, if I were Dickens, I wouldn't have named the book after him. He wasn't the central character in the same way that Oliver Twist is in "Oliver Twist" or David Copperfield is in "David Copperfield." I would have titled it "London Burning."

What a surprise!! Just when I thought it was time to go back and re-read a favorite Dickens, I’m so glad I didn’t miss this one.

For the uninitiated – Dickens wrote two historical fiction novels: A Tale of Two Cities, and the one nobody’s heard of: Barnaby Rudge. TOTC centers on the French Revolution (around 1789); Barnaby Rudge is set during 1775 - 1780 and highlights the anti-Catholic Gordon Riots of ’80.

I read TOTC earlier this year, and in my opinion, Barnaby Rudge runs circles around it.

I learned a bit about the Gordon Riots, an event I knew nothing about beforehand. So, that’s all well and good. But this was just a great story! Good fiction based on a piece of little-known historical fact, with some filial drama and a bit of murder mystery thrown in. It was evenly paced (on the main). Chock-full of captivating scenes, both the close-ups and the wide-angle dramas. It had that wonderful Dickens blend of the comic and the tragic. But what stands out most in my reading experience was how much I was invested in every character. I cared so much about every single one, almost equally. I thought about them a lot when I wasn’t reading, (which is certainly *NOT* something I can say about TOTC).

Out of everyone though, it was poor, simple-minded Barnaby who stole the show – despite the fact that he was absent for large portions of the story. And even given that fact, it is understandable to me why his name is the book’s title. What a creation: A grown man who’s naïve as a child, with a talking raven for a pet. He was a great character to interact with, and to filter the events of this novel through. This was just so well done, the whole thing.

I give Barnaby Rudge a hearty recommendation, especially to those who enjoy Dickens. I’d always heard that this book, and Martin Chuzzlewit, were his “lesser” novels, the ones his fans can safely skip. I don’t know about Chuzzlewit (yet), but please don’t overlook Barnaby Rudge. It’s a goodie.

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In conclusion, Barnaby Rudge is a hidden gem in Dickens' works. It offers a unique blend of historical context, engaging characters, and a captivating plot. The way Dickens brings the past to life and makes us care about each and every character is truly remarkable. Whether you're a die-hard Dickens fan or just looking for a great read, don't miss out on this wonderful novel. It might just become one of your favorites too.

I am one of the few people who think this book is one of Charlie's best books.

It is not popular, which might seem strange to some. But for me, it holds a special charm.

My next book, which is also among my top favorites, is "Pickwick Papers", his first book.

"Pickwick Papers" is a masterpiece that showcases Charlie's unique writing style and vivid imagination.

The characters in the book are so well-developed that they come alive on the pages.

Each story within the book is filled with humor, adventure, and valuable life lessons.

Although this book may not have achieved the same level of popularity as some of Charlie's other works, it is definitely a hidden gem that is worth discovering.

I highly recommend it to anyone who loves great literature and wants to explore the genius of Charlie.

This book stands out from other works of Charles Dickens as it is not set in the author's familiar Victorian-era Britain. Similar to "A Tale of Two Cities", it is crafted as a historical novel, incorporating real-life events. While the latter centered around the French Revolution, this one is set in 1780 and involves the Gordon riots against the Catholic Church, a topic I was previously unfamiliar with.

The book commences with the arrival of three strangers at an inn, among them a highwayman, before the introduction of the diverse cast of characters. Strangely, Barnaby Rudge himself makes only sporadic appearances in the first half, leading me to wonder early on why the book was named after him. Fortunately, he does ultimately assume a central role in the main plot.

I observed that Barnaby was labeled as a "village idiot", and I questioned whether this was an perhaps less than politically correct 19th-century term for an autistic person. I found it easy to empathize with him, and I relished reading the chapters featuring him and his talking raven.

The first half of the book was somewhat challenging to engage with, mainly revolving around character romances, although I did appreciate the literary style. For instance, at times Dickens retells an entire episode from the perspectives of different characters.

The sections of the book that I savored the most were in the second half, where nearly every main character became embroiled in the riots. The vivid depiction of events was highly captivating, and the scene of the attack on Newgate prison reminded me of the storming of the Bastille in "A Tale of Two Cities". At times, the story felt extremely dark, especially when dealing with the subject of executions by hanging, and it seemed unlikely that there would be a happy ending.

Overall, I am glad that I persisted with this book, as I derived a great deal of enjoyment from it.

This is a graphic novel that was part of the original short-lived 'A Classic in Pictures' series, which had only around 10 or 12 issues. It is noted as 'A Story in Pictures. Freely Adapted', but unfortunately, the name of the author responsible for the adaptation is not given. This is a great shame as 'Barnaby Rudge' was likely not the easiest of Dickens' works to transform into a graphic novel.

The story is set during the anti-Catholic riots, known as the Gordon Riots, in 1780. It begins at The Maypole Inn in Chigwell, where several characters from the story are gathered, enjoying a drink and a chat. Their peaceful afternoon is disrupted by an ill-looking ruffian who enters and quickly leaves when he realizes he is not welcome.

It is through this ruffian's actions that we are introduced to Barnaby Rudge, who lives with his mother in a cottage near Chigwell. Barnaby is attending to Edward Chester, who has been attacked and robbed by the ruffian. Gabriel Varden, whose daughter Dolly is a favorite of Barnaby's, helps transport Chester to safety. Barnaby feels that he has seen the ruffian before but cannot remember where.

From then on, the Gordon riots begin, and the story portrays the unparalleled reign of terror of a rampaging mob, seen through the eyes of individuals like Barnaby, who are caught up in the chaos. With a love story intertwined within the tale, Barnaby, accompanied by his pet raven Grip, eventually finds himself imprisoned for his role in the riots. Fortunately, his mother, who has a shock when she meets someone from her past, and Barnaby's friends manage to secure a pardon for him as the story weaves its way through the volatile streets and nightmarish underbelly of London, vividly painted by Dickens and admirably carried over into this graphic version of the novel. The riots and the mob are depicted with extraordinary energy, which comes across powerfully from the pages, making 'Barnaby Rudge' perhaps one of Dickens' most terrifying novels.

As I mentioned at the start of this brief review, it is a pity that the writer of the text for this edition has not been identified. They deserve credit for the work they have done in maintaining a close resemblance to the original novel.

While Dickens is undeniably a maestro in intertwining an almost preposterous number of distinct storylines into a single central plot, he might have stretched a bit too far with Barnaby Rudge. Dickens is truly a sorcerer when it comes to plot construction. Against all odds, the numerous threads running through each of his tomes usually converge seamlessly by the novel's conclusion. However, Barnaby Rudge gets somewhat disoriented after a five-year time leap in the middle of the narrative and never fully regains its footing.

Certain characters who are captivating in the introductory chapters - the endearingly innocent and resolute Joe Willet, the charming and unpredictable Dolly Varden, and the diminutive, spiteful Simon Tappertit (a simultaneously repellent and hilarious figure almost as fascinatingly vile as Copperfield's slimy Uriah Heep) - essentially vanish for hundreds of pages. Other figures whom I found far less interesting, like the savage Hugh (depicted as some sort of dreadful intermediary between beast and man) and the bloodthirsty hangman Dennis, dominate the second half of the narrative. And while I often relish reading about unlikable characters, the indiscriminately violent and destructive group of miscreants at the heart of the bulk of the novel remain relatively one-dimensional despite the significant number of chapters dedicated to their tales.

Many of the plots that are so engaging at the start of the novel, like many of its finest characters, also get somewhat lost in the chaos as the narrative's focus shifts to the Gordon Riots. The mysterious murders, the family secrets, and the forbidden romance that draw you into the novel and underpin the beginning chapters fade almost entirely into the background by the middle of the book. To be fair, these abandoned plots are revived and superficially resolved by the novel's end - most of the loose ends are haphazardly tied up - but not in a way that feels truly complete or satisfying.

That being said, I still relished the experience of reading Barnaby Rudge and would likely read it again. It seems like the bridge between the anomalously somber and concise (for Dickens, that is) A Tale of Two Cities and the rest of Dickens' sprawling, excessive, and often grotesquely comic body of work - which alone makes it a worthy read for any dedicated fan of Dickens.

As a final point, Barnaby Rudge is perhaps worth reading solely for Grip the talking raven, an uncannily perceptive bird that goes around muttering ominous things like "I'm the devil!" and "No popery!" and simultaneously amusing and disturbing its captivated audience. Honestly, I would eagerly devour an entire novel exclusively centered on Grip's adventures. The book may be titled Barnaby Rudge, but as far as I'm concerned, Grip steals the show.

I can't understand why people think less of this book than other Dickens'.

It is truly and utterly fantastic. Dickens had an extraordinary way with words that simply captivated me.

Every single word in this book was a joy to read.

The story unfolds in a vivid and engaging manner, drawing the reader in from the very beginning.

The characters are so well-developed that they seem to come alive on the pages.

The descriptions are so detailed that I could picture every scene in my mind's eye.

This book is a masterpiece that showcases Dickens' genius as a writer.

It is a shame that some people don't give it the recognition it deserves.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves great literature.

This is, without a doubt, not Dickens's finest piece of writing.

At times, it can be a bit of a challenge to follow the narrative, and there are fewer of those memorable and catchy turns of phrase that are so characteristic of his better works.

Nonetheless, it does hold a significant place among his best social commentaries. It offers timeless insights into how individuals become entrapped in populist movements that promote bigotry and intolerance.

It also provides a keen understanding of those who misinterpret their own small-mindedness as true morality.

The Gordon Riots of 1780 serve as a captivating backdrop for the novel. I couldn't help but find myself longing that Dickens had penned this work during the peak of his writing skills, rather than in the early stages of his literary evolution.

Perhaps then, it could have reached even greater heights and left an even more profound impact on the readers.

Despite its flaws, it still manages to offer valuable perspectives on society and human nature, which is a testament to Dickens's talent as a writer.

In this work, Dickens, at times, tended to be a bit long-winded in his descriptions and in the speeches of certain of his characters. Moreover, the characters themselves often bordered on being a little too much of a caricature. However, despite these flaws, I truly found myself caring deeply about them. I had an intense desire to know what fate awaited each and every one of them, including the villains. The riot scenes were absolutely chilling. It was easy for me to draw parallels to the present day, just as I am certain Dickens could see similar situations in his own time.

This book fulfilled the Popsugar Reading Challenge 2020 requirement of being a book written by an author in their 20s. It was an interesting and engaging read, despite its minor drawbacks. The vivid characters and the powerful descriptions made it a memorable experience. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys classic literature and is looking for a unique and thought-provoking read.

Overall, I am glad that I chose to read this book and look forward to exploring more of Dickens' works in the future.