This completed my reading of all the Dickens Novels and is set around the religious "Gordon Riots" between protestants and catholics in the late 1700s. The character of Barnaby - a half-wit, is somewhat intriguing as he is an unkknowing pawn of the greater movement - "No Popery!". Barnaby has a pet Raven named Grip whom, I'm told, was the basis for Poe's "The Raven". The story centers around Emma - a catholic and Edward - a protestant in a Romeo and Juliet-esque love affair. Like all Dickens novels, the characters are what make the story. Also, like all Dickens, if you hang in through the whole story, you feel rewarded when all is said and done. Anyone who likes Dickens will like Barnaby Rudge.