Barnaby Rudge
Dec. 26th, 2020 10:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
poliphiloI'm continuing with the Dickens marathon- and after The Old Curiosity Shop (which is a masterpiece) comes Barnaby Rudge (which isn't).
Dickens is attempting to do something in the manner of his friend Harrison Ainsworth, the historical romancer. It's a gallant effort but it goes against his natural gifts. There are some lively comic characters, some stagey villains- and a couple of aristocratic lovers (on whom the plot turns) who are so colourless that even their creator doesn't care to spend much time in their company. Somewhere down the line the Gordon riots are going to take place- and that could be fun...
It's the only major Dickens I'd never read before- and while I'm happy to be completing the set- I think I was wise to avoid it until now...
Dickens is attempting to do something in the manner of his friend Harrison Ainsworth, the historical romancer. It's a gallant effort but it goes against his natural gifts. There are some lively comic characters, some stagey villains- and a couple of aristocratic lovers (on whom the plot turns) who are so colourless that even their creator doesn't care to spend much time in their company. Somewhere down the line the Gordon riots are going to take place- and that could be fun...
It's the only major Dickens I'd never read before- and while I'm happy to be completing the set- I think I was wise to avoid it until now...
no subject
Date: 2020-12-26 12:16 pm (UTC)