Barnaby Rudge

The anti-Catholic riots of 1780 are the setting for Charles Dickens first historical book which offers a singular depiction of the dread of a raging mob as experienced by the people caught up in the mayhem.One of the riot leaders named Barnaby whose fate is connected to a murder mystery and whose beloved pet raven Grip personifies the mystical power of innocence are among those people. Emma is a Catholic and Edward is a Protestant and their forbidden love runs through the storys core. The novel spans the exclusive aristocratic elite as well as the chaotic streets and nightmare underbelly of London which Dickens describes in his signature vivid throbbing realism. However the riots themselves are the real focus of the book. They are portrayed with extraordinary energy and are reminiscent of the dangers the stupidity and the potentials—both good and bad—of the mob.Despite being one of Dickens less well-known books Barnaby Rudge is one of his most clever and scary works.