Barnaby Rudge Audiobook By Charles Dickens cover art

Barnaby Rudge

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Barnaby Rudge

By: Charles Dickens
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Dickens' first historical novel is set in 1780s England at the time of the Gordon Riots. In a case of mistaken identification, Barnaby Rudge, a pale half-wit with long red hair who dresses all in green and carries a large raven on his back, is arrested as the leader of a mob of anti-Catholic rioters. He is condemned to death on the gallows, but an upright locksmith named Gabriel Varden comes to his aid.

Dickens provides another memorable cast of characters, including the dull-witted, tyrannical John Willet, Dennis the Hangman, and Hugh the savage ostler.

Public Domain (P)1996 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Historical Fiction Classics Literary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction

Critic reviews

"Robert Whitfield['s] unflagging energy, imagination, and finesse rank this among the best of audio Dickens." ( Library Journal)
Compelling Historical Depiction • Sharp Character Insights • Relevant Social Commentary • Engaging Plot Progression

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This was a long story, with many characters. I lost parts of the story along my commute as there are numerous conversations with the characters, which didn't appear to have meaning, but come together in the end. I had to relisten to parts of the book to keep up with the story. The narrator was fantastic with his ability to change characters manners and age which is part of Dickens work. I preferred the end of the book much more as that is where the riots and drama evolves. It lacked some of the mystery of his famous classical works like Twist and Great Expectations, but to me the last 20 chapters brought it all together. The characters and accents were excellently done with the likes of Dennis the Hangman, and the Gabriel the locksmith, the idiot Barnaby, and almost human Grip. If you like Dickens you should like this one.

Another Great Dickens Tale

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"Barnaby Rudge" is possibly Dickens's least well-known novel among modern readers. Hollywood has ignored it: there's a 1915 silent film version, a 1960 BBC version, and that's it. There are reasons for this: the novel makes an awkward 5-year jump in the middle, sends major characters off-stage for hundreds of pages, and is in general more padded with extraneous material and long conversations than it needs to be. Even if you're a Dickens fan, you might prefer an abridged version as an audiobook.

But the full version has its rewards. Over time, characters who initially seemed flat and stereotyped take on true psychological depth. The best of them are among the best in Dickens--no one has created a better picture of genteel hypocrisy than Sir John Chester, for example. There are magnificent descriptions of 18th-century inns and an imaginative recreation of London after dark, pre-gaslight. And the historical portions, the depiction of Lord Gordon, the rioters, and the anarchy they unleash on London, are as compelling as the better-known counterparts in "Tale of Two Cities".

Whitfield's narration and voice characterization is excellent throughout, despite a couple of annoying idiosyncrasies (notably, the way he handles "Why" as an exclamation). Audio quality of the file is excellent (enhanced format).

Overlong but under-rated Dickens

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There is much of value in this book - the depiction of the Gordon Riots, in particular, is of interest and importance. There are aspects of these riots - violence against a minority instigated by inciteful talk by important people and carried out by the riffraff (and a naive Barnaby Rudge of the title) - that are, sadly, too relevant today. One can understand from these riots how easily it is to rile up a crowd to commit a pogrom in the name of religion with hatred towards others of another religion for no real reason. Unfortunately, Dickens devotes too much of the book to building the stories of the various characters, and much of those stories seem superfluous. In fact, it is not even clear what value the title character, Barnaby Rudge, adds to the main point of the story. He is a “simple” person, often called an “idiot”, of limited intellect, with a devoted mother. Her husband is a fugitive murderer. These three characters (and Grip the raven) could have been omitted, and all that surrounds them (Stagg, Rudge Sr.’s accomplice) without detracting much from what to me are the more interesting aspects of the story. Haredale could be Emma’s ward without the whole additional complications of those characters, and the animosity between Haredale and Chester would be intact, relevant to the story because Haredale (and Emma) are Catholic while Chester (and his son, who loves Emma) are Protestant, but it is a deeper animosity, and I was left puzzled about the actual source of Chester’s treachery. That he is a villain is clear, but why? As always, Dickens’ language and writing is superb, and much of this book is excellent. Simon Vance’s reading is, also as always, superb. If you are a Dickens fan, you ought to listen to this book to familiarize yourself with all his works, and be left with much to contemplate (and many analyses of this book to consider if you agree or not). But if you are not yet a Dickens fan, it is best to start with some of his other books.

Become a Dickens fan first, then listen to this

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"Barnaby Rudge" is a very good but less known Dickens novel. It is a historical novel set in 1780. Dickens tended not to author historical novels. I liked it, but can understand why it is a lesser known novel.

In that this is an audiobook, I want to state that the narration is excellent. The reading by Simon Vance is very good. Mister Vance has a real knack for capturing the comedic aspects of this novel.

As for the story itself, it is like all Dickens novels, well written. It is an historical novel, which is not the normal Dickens venue. This story develops slowly which honestly frustrated me. I knew all along that Dickens would tie it together but it seemed to take forever to really get going. But this is a story that the longer I read it, the more I liked it.

I am glad that I read this novel. Simon Vance is very good. The story starts slowly. In the end I am very glad that I stayed with it. Thank You...

A Good, Lesser Known Dickens Novel, About 1780 London Riots

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To this...
Dickens is an awesome storyteller and Simon Vance really nails the narration. Long but interesting throughout

So glad I listened

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