Barnaby Rudge

Wonderful

This is a wonderful novel - how did I manage to avoid it for so long? (I've been working my way through all of Dickens' novels over the last couple of years. I would almost say I've been "working them off," but if you listen to this one - and I strongly recommend that you do - you'll understand that working things off is not always a good thing.)

Dickens is at his morally outraged best in Barnaby Rudge: the story centers around the anti-Catholic riots in London in 1780. I'd read a little bit about the riots before - they show up in biographies of Samuel Johnson, who was in London at the time - but nothing like the real horror of it. Tens of thousands of rioters marched through the streets. Hundreds of people were killed, many by the soldiers called in (finally) to restore order; houses, churches, and carriages were burned by the score. Newgate Prison itself was destroyed and all the prisoners set free. In the aftermath, dozens of rioters were hanged.

Moving through this gripping slice of history are the simple-minded Barnaby Rudge; his mother; a brace of loving couples; a heroic locksmith; and a chilling assortment of villains. Barnaby, in his simplicity, is coaxed into carrying a banner for the rioters, and thinks he's being a brave warrior in a noble cause, until he comes face to face with the gallows.

It's not all grim. Dickens' comic invention is in evidence throughout. The dialogue sparkles, and at least three of the four main villains have brilliant star turns that are wickedly funny. (The fourth villain is a brutal, frightening concoction - one of the most unredeemed, and unredeemable, parents Dickens ever invented.)

Sean Barrett's narration is brilliant. Every character has a unique voice, and all are utterly convincing, even the almost too-good-to-be-true Barnaby. Most of the villains have coarse, gravelly voices, but one has a voice as smooth as silk and is all the scarier because of it. This is going down as one of my three or four favorite audiobooks of Dickens. For me, it was infinitely more interesting and rewarding than his other historical novel, A Tale of Two Cities. It's a rip-roaring tale, and I loved it.

25 of 26 people found this review helpful

Fascinating historical story

Reading (knd of) Dickens has been one of the gifts that Audible has introduced me too. As a historical novel this is a bit of a departure from Dickens normal period and I needed to remind myself of that change of era at times through the story.

Before this book I knew that there had been "Gordon Riots" but I had no idea what or who Grodon was and what the riots were about. Dickens sets out the story clearly and using the kind of characters and storylines that he seems to create better than anybody else. By the end of the work all the threads have been drawn together for a satisfying story but also the history has been told in a clear and memorable way.

The narration is good and clear, characterisation is useful rather than intrusive. Recommended.

11 of 11 people found this review helpful

Great historical novel with an excellent narrator

I have read most of Dickens, but somehow passed over this book until recently. If you are interested in British history, the Gordon Riots will certainly hold your interest. I know that I would not have enjoyed this book nearly as much if I had read it instead of listening to this audio book. The narration is amazing.

7 of 7 people found this review helpful

Brilliant performance, strong historical plot

What did you love best about Barnaby Rudge?

It's a Dickens thriller, if there is such a thing. As a historical novel it has some fact-based characters and a full complement of Dickens inventions, read superbly by Sean Barrett. It amazes how easy it is to tell which character is speaking by the thoroughly enjoyable delivery. Can't say enough about how well Barrett brings the troupe to life.

What other book might you compare Barnaby Rudge to and why?

I listened to the Old Curiosity Shoppe just before Rudge and it wasn't nearly as good - this has a large purport, and could better be compared to Little Dorrit which is also somewhat factual. However Rudge is better paced and frankly more interesting. I also saw the film The Duchess recently, based on Amanda Foreman's nonfiction book on Georgiana Cavendish, Duchess of Devonshire, which is set at the same time - the late 18th century. This great book helps inform Dickens' subject, and made the Rudge experience even richer.

Which character – as performed by Sean Barrett – was your favorite?

Haredale was good - steady. But I love the locksmith, and John Willett was a lot of fun.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

The ill-informed riots that might have felled the British empire.

Any additional comments?

Get it. Someday I'll buy the book and read along as I listen. Sean Barrett deserves a fancy award for this work.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Absolutely spellbinding!

If you could sum up Barnaby Rudge in three words, what would they be?

Mesmerizing
Gripping
Beautiful

What did you like best about this story?

Charles Dickens's ability to bring out human nature at its darkest and finest. These characters are like every day people we all know.

What about Sean Barrett’s performance did you like?

Mr. Barrett's ability to make the characters come alive and to give them their own voice was truly remarkable.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes, yes, and yes!

Any additional comments?

My wife and I thouroughly enjoyed listening to this with the book open in front of us each night this past week. We'll definitely be making this a regular practice.

6 of 6 people found this review helpful

Pleasant but not Great Dickens

This is an early Dickens’ historical novel about the anti-Catholic Gordon riots of 1780 and the doings and loves of a host of country characters. There are some great Dickens characters and moments in this novel; the raven, the villains, Hugh and his dog and, of course, Barnaby. Yet this is not Dickens best work. The novel lacks focus; it is a historical chronical, a mystery, a romance, an adventure and a parable. In each aspect it foreshadows later and better Dickens novels. The novel winds up too predictably and too cleanly. In his later works there is more focus and nuance.

The narration is quite good throughout, but the voice of Miggs was too annoying even for Miggs (an annoying housemaid). Although this is not Great Dickens, it is still Dickens, which is still quite good.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Magnificent

Captivating from the very beginning. This book is well read and draws the listener into each character in a profound way.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Wow!

I love the work of Dickens and this one did not disappoint. His ability to bring stories to life is beyond any modern day authors to which I have listened with the exception of his shallow female characters. However, the characters and images that is created are pure delight. The reader was amazing.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Best narrator ever! Great story.

Best narrator ever. I would listen to him til the end of time. The story is true Dickens and quite apt for our own day. The mob scenes are truly frightening. A great listen.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Surprisingly Better Than a Tale of Two Cities

It has been said that this is Dickens' least-read novel, while A Tale of Two Cities was the best-selling. ATTC is unfortunately a slog, in my estimation, compared to BR, which showcases much more of Dickens' wit and ability to move a story along to the impatience of the contemporary reader. Concerning Audible specifically, Barrett's narration is far more engaging than is Vance's cadence in ATTC that yields to constant drifting of one's attention. This was not a problem with Barrett, which is vitally important since an ear needs pay constant attention to the voice to appreciate this author's work to it's fullest.