Barnaby Rudge

'Time has been lost and opportunity thrown away, but I am yet a young man, and may retrieve it.' First published in 1841, and an insightful exploration of class and society at times of profound upheaval, Barnaby Rudge is Dickens's very first historical novel. Set against the turbulent backdrop of the Gordon Riots in 1780 London, this captivating novel follows the story of Barnaby Rudge: a young, somewhat naïve man with a childlike demeanour, who, despite his struggles, retains a heart of gold. Drawn into an unnerving family secret surrounding his father and a sinister man named Mr. Hugh, Barnaby is thrown into unchartered territory, as he and his peers try their best to survive the chaos of the ongoing riots. With shrewd observations on identity, social unrest and class divides, Barnaby Rudge remains one of Dickens's most rewarding pieces of storytelling. This audiobook edition is compellingly brought to life by Nicholas Boulton. Charles Dickens (1812 – 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He is regarded by many as the greatest novelist of the Victorian era. His works enjoyed unprecedented popularity during his lifetime and, by the twentieth century, critics and scholars had recognized him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories are widely read, performed and adapted today.