Barnaby Rudge - Charles Dickens

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Résumé :
Fully entitled Barnaby Rudge: A Tale of the Riots of 'Eighty, this novel was Dickens' first attempt at a historical novel. As such, it is the precursor to his more famous A Tale of Two Cities, in which his exploration of mob violence, and especially the effect of public events on individual lives, becomes apparent. This work centers on Barnaby Rudge, a mentally simple son, and his loving mother, who are a part of the small village of Epping Forest, just outside of London. This community displays both ties of enmity and love between its members, but all is threatened when the misguided Lord George Gordon arrives in the village with his followers. Their lives are disrupted and caught up in riots that incite destruction in London. This tangle of events leads to misunderstandings that wrongly sentence Barnaby to mount the scaffold. The climactic conclusion of the novel attests to Dickens' early skill as a writer and makes Barnaby Rudge a worthy selection for fans of the author. This edition is printed on premium acid-free paper.

Biographie:
Charles John Huffam Dickens (7 February 1812 - 9 June 1870) was an English writer and social critic. He created some of the world's best-known fictional characters and is regarded 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 recognised him as a literary genius. His novels and short stories enjoy lasting popularity. Born in Portsmouth, Dickens left school to work in a factory when his father was incarcerated in a debtors' prison. Despite his lack of formal education, he edited a weekly journal for 20 years, wrote 15 novels, five novellas, hundreds of short stories and non-fiction articles, lectured and performed extensively, was an indefatigable letter writer, and campaigned vigorously for children's rights, education, and other social reforms. Dickens was regarded as the literary colossus of his age. His 1843 novella, A Christmas Carol, remains popular and continues to inspire adaptations in every artistic genre. Oliver Twist and Great Expectations are also frequently adapted, and, like many of his novels, evoke images of early Victorian London. His 1859 novel, A Tale of Two Cities, set in London and Paris, is his best-known work of historical fiction.

Sommaire:
Charles Dickens was born on February 7, 1812, in Portsmouth, England, into a family that faced financial instability. His early life was marked by hardship, particularly when his father was imprisoned for debt, forcing young Dickens to work in a factory at the age of 12. These formative experiences deeply influenced his later writings, infusing them with themes of social injustice and the struggles of the poor.Dickens began his literary career as a journalist, but he quickly rose to fame with the publication of The Pickwick Papers in 1836. His vivid characters, keen social observations, and serialized storytelling captivated a broad audience. Over the years, Dickens authored numerous classics such as Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, and A Christmas Carol, establishing himself as one of the most influential writers of the Victorian era.Beyond his novels, Dickens was also a tireless social critic, using his platform to advocate for reforms in education, labor conditions, and the treatment of the poor. His works not only entertained but also challenged society to confront its injustices. Dickens continued to write and tour extensively until his death on June 9, 1870, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with readers around the world....