19th Century Decorative and Illustrated Volumes, William Harrison Ainsworth's Works - 8 Books

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Title: Ainsworth's Works.
Author: William Harrison Ainsworth.
Illustrator(s): George Cruikshank, Sir John Gilbert, John Franklin, Harlot K. Browne, P. Justine, … Read more Title: Ainsworth's Works.
Author: William Harrison Ainsworth.
Illustrator(s): George Cruikshank, Sir John Gilbert, John Franklin, Harlot K. Browne, P. Justine, J.H. Rimbault.
Publisher: George Routledge and Sons.
Printer: C. Whiting, Beaufort-House, Savill Edwards and Co.
Publication date: Circa late 19th Century (no date).

About this item: 2476 Pp total. 8vo. Published circa 1880s. 8 volumes (one half of a 16 volume set). Fine blue leather binding, 5 raised bands on spine covers with gilt tooled compartments, red and tan title labels, marble boards and end papers, leather corner caps, profusely illustrated with steel engravings.

Dimensions: 9 H x 6.25 D x 1.5 [12 inches overall].

Included: Rookwood (338 p.) [1834], Jack Sheppard (344 p.) [1839], Old St. Pauls (426p.) [1841], The Miser's Daughter (302 p.) [1842], Auriol or the Elixir of Life (238 p.) [1850], The Life and Adventures of Mervyn Clitheroe (372 p.) [1858], Ovingdean Grange (357 p.) [1860], Boscobel of the Royal Oak (369 p.) [1871].

Not included: The Flitch of Bacon or the Custom of Dunmow [1854], Guy Fawkes or The Gunpowder Treason [1841], The Lancashire Witches [1849], The Spendthrift [1857], The Star-Chamber [1854], The Tower of London [1840], Windsor Castle [1843].

Most popular works (included*): *Rookwood [1834] - first success. His Lancashire novels are considered his most successful works: *Jack Shepard [1839], *Old St Paul's [1841], The Lancashire Witches [1848], Windsor Castle [1843], and *Mervyn Clitheroe [1857].


Brief Biography: The friend and rival of Dickens, William Harrison Ainsworth (1805-1882) was a prolific historical novelist born in Manchester UK, whose work helped change the course of Victorian literature. He had an exceptionally eventful career as one of the most picturesque personalities of the nineteenth century. Ainsworth's beginnings in London commenced with legal studies. His introduction to literary and dramatic circles came by way of the publisher John Ebers, at that time manager of the King's Theatre, and to his daughter, who became the author's wife. Ainsworth briefly tried his hand at the publishing business, but devoted himself to journalism and literature. His first success as a writer came with Rookwood (1834 - included), which features Dick Turpin as its leading character. A stream of 39 novels followed, the last which appeared in 1881. Ainsworth died in Reigate on 3 January 1882. See less