Barnaby Rudge

Barnaby Rudge, Charles Dickens’s 1841 historical novel, unfolds against the backdrop of the 1780 Gordon Riots in London, blending mystery, social unrest, and personal drama. The story centers on the intellectually disabled title character, Barnaby, and his devoted mother, who grapple with a shadowy past tied to a long-unsolved double murder involving the Haredale and Rudge families. As anti-Catholic fervor erupts into violent mob chaos sparked by Lord George Gordon, Barnaby unwittingly joins the rioters, while intertwined romances—such as between Edward Chester and Emma Haredale—face opposition from scheming fathers and societal divides. Dickens explores themes of fanaticism, family strife, and innocence amid corruption, culminating in tragedy, redemption, and resolutions for the surviving lovers.