Jack Sheppard (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Historical NovelBy William Harrison Ainsworth
Length19h 18m
About this audiobook
William Harrison Ainsworth's Jack Sheppard (1839) is a vivid Newgate novel that transforms the career of the celebrated eighteenth-century housebreaker into a fast-paced romance of crime, confinement, and spectacular escape. Drawing on criminal biography, popular theatre, and Gothic melodrama, Ainsworth stages London's underworld with theatrical energy, setting the agile, charismatic Sheppard against the sinister thief-taker Jonathan Wild. Its episodic structure, bold contrasts, and sensational incidents place it firmly within Victorian debates about popular fiction and the moral dangers of glamorizing transgression. Ainsworth, a novelist with antiquarian tastes and a keen instinct for public appetite, was fascinated by the drama of historical personalities and the imaginative power of place. Following the success of Rookwood, he turned to Sheppard's legend at a moment when serialized fiction and urban crime narratives commanded enormous attention, shaping a work that reflects both his archival interests and his flair for spectacle. This book is recommended to readers interested in Victorian popular culture, crime fiction's origins, and the uneasy boundary between historical reconstruction and sensational entertainment.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A succinct Introduction situates the work's timeless appeal and themes.
- The Synopsis outlines the central plot, highlighting key developments without spoiling critical twists.
- A detailed Historical Context immerses you in the era's events and influences that shaped the writing.
- A thorough Analysis dissects symbols, motifs, and character arcs to unearth underlying meanings.
- Reflection questions prompt you to engage personally with the work's messages, connecting them to modern life.
- Hand‐picked Memorable Quotes shine a spotlight on moments of literary brilliance.
- Interactive footnotes clarify unusual references, historical allusions, and archaic phrases for an effortless, more informed read.
Audiobook details
GenreHistorical Fiction, Mystery and Thriller
Length19 hrs 18 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 26, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
2Introduction
3Synopsis
4Historical Context
5Jack Sheppard
Show all chaptersShow less
6EPOCH THE FIRST. 1703. JONATHAN WILD.
7Chapter 1. The Widow and her Child.
8Chapter 2. The Old Mint.
9Chapter 3. The Master of the Mint.
10Chapter 4. The Roof and the Window.
11Chapter 5. The Denunciation.
12Chapter 6. The Storm.
13Chapter 7. Old London Bridge.
14EPOCH THE SECOND. 1715. THAMES DARRELL.
15Chapter 1. The Idle Apprentice.
16Chapter 2. Thames Darrell.
17Chapter 3. The Jacobite.
18Chapter 4. Mr. Kneebone and his Friends.
19Chapter 5. Hawk and Buzzard.
20Chapter 6. The first Step towards the Ladder.
21Chapter 7. Brother and Sister.
22Chapter 8. Miching Mallecho.
23Chapter 9. Consequences of the Theft.
24Chapter 10. Mother and Son.
25Chapter 11. The Mohocks.
26Chapter 12. Saint Giles’s Round-house.
27Chapter 13. The Magdalene.
28Chapter 14. The Flash Ken.
29Chapter 15. The Robbery in Willesden Church.
30Chapter 16. Jonathan Wild’s House in the Old Bailey.
31Chapter 17. The Night-Cellar.
32Chapter 18. How Jack Sheppard broke out of the Cage at Willesden.
33Chapter 19. Good and Evil.
34EPOCH THE THIRD. 1724. THE PRISON-BREAKER.
35Chapter 1. The Return.
36Chapter 2. The Burglary at Dollis Hill.
37Chapter 3. Jack Sheppard’s Quarrel with Jonathan Wild.
38Chapter 4. Jack Sheppard’s Escape from the New Prison.
39Chapter 5. The Disguise.
40Chapter 6. Winifred receives two Proposals.
41Chapter 7. Jack Sheppard warns Thames Darrell.
42Chapter 8. Old Bedlam.
43Chapter 9. Old Newgate.
44Chapter 10. How Jack Sheppard got out of the Condemned Hold.
45Chapter 11. Dollis Hill revisited.
46Chapter 12. The Well Hole.
47Chapter 13. The Supper at Mr. Kneebone’s.
48Chapter 14. How Jack Sheppard was again captured.
49Chapter 15. How Blueskin underwent the Peine Forte et Dure.
50Chapter 16. How Jack Sheppard’s Portrait was painted.
The Collected Works of William Harrison Ainsworth (Illustrated Edition) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth285h 2m4.6 (13)$2 · $0.00
W. H. Ainsworth Collection: 20+ Historical Novels, Gothic Romances & Adventure Classics (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth286h 4m$2 · $0.00
Guy Fawkes (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth19h 42m3.6 (87)$2 · $0.00
The Greatest Novels of William Harrison Ainsworth (Illustrated Edition) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth283h 38m4.3 (12)$2 · $0.00
The Lancashire Witches (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth27h 10m3.5 (437)$2 · $0.00
Windsor Castle (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth14h 7m3.1 (95)$2 · $0.00
Old St Paul's (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth23h 8m3.7 (131)$3 · $0.00
RookwoodWilliam Harrison Ainsworth11h 46m3.5 (262)$2 · $0.00
The Tower of LondonWilliam Harrison Ainsworth20h 55m3.6 (55)$1 · $0.00
Cardinal Pole; Or, The Days of Philip and MaryWilliam Harrison Ainsworth15h 29m3.4 (10)$2 · $0.00
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651William Harrison Ainsworth18h 7m$2 · $0.00
Ovingdean GrangeWilliam Harrison Ainsworth12h 26m3.3 (31)$2 · $0.00
Jack SheppardWilliam Harrison Ainsworth17h 56m3.6 (124)$2 · $0.00
WILLIAM H. AINSWORTH Ultimate Collection (Illustrated) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth286h 2m4.4 (13)$2 · $0.00
Rookwood (Summarized Edition)William Harrison Ainsworth4h 8m$2
A Walk Through Old London – 3 Classic Historical NovelsWilliam Harrison Ainsworth, M. E. Braddon, Charles Dickens68h 19m$1
Windsor Castle (Historical Novel)William Harrison Ainsworth14h 2m3.6 (702)$1 · $0.00
Rookwood (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth19h 15m4.2 (12)$1.99 · $0.00
The Lancashire Witches (Historical Novel)William Harrison Ainsworth27h 5m3.7 (1.1K)$2 · $0.00
The Man in the Brown Suit & They Came to BaghdadAgatha Christie15h 43m4.6 (495)$33 · $0.00
Under the Light of the Italian MoonJennifer Anton12h 28m4.5 (5.3K)$23 · $0.00
Jubilee, 50th Anniversary EditionMargaret Walker15h 43m4.5 (9.5K)$25 · $0.00
Pride and PrejudiceJane Austen14h 44m4.4 (4.7M)$2 · $0.00
Flying Colours (Annotated)Cecil Louis Troughton Smith9h 26m4.4 (10.1K)$2 · $0.00
With Love from HarlemReShonda Tate13h 48m4.5 (2K)$6 · $0.00
Sweet Home Highland ChristmasMay McGoldrick, Jan Coffey2h 54m4.5 (1.4K)$7 · $0.00
Rilla of InglesideL. M. Montgomery12h 25m4.4 (67.5K)$2 · $0.00
Death Comes for the Archbishop (Annotated)Willa Cather9h 13m4.4 (4.7K)$2 · $0.00
The Alice NetworkKate Quinn15h 7m4.4 (887.1K)$33 · $0.00
The Goddess of WarsawLisa Barr13h 4m4.4 (36.4K)$33 · $0.00
The Ohio River Trilogy: Betty Zane, The Spirit of the Border & The Last TrailZane Grey29h 8m4.4 (1.8K)$1 · $0.00
The Attic ChildLola Jaye14h 46m4.4 (21K)$33 · $0.00
Martyr of the CatacombsJames De Mille3h 41m4.5 (744)$1 · $0.00
Bring Up The BodiesHilary Mantel14h 35m4.4 (150K)$33 · $0.00
By the Shores of Silver LakeLaura Ingalls Wilder7h 38m4.4 (103.7K)$1 · $0.00
Sexy/DangerousBeverly Jenkins10h 19m4.4 (2.3K)$29 · $0.00
Trustee from the ToolroomNevil Shute Norway11h 42m4.4 (10.5K)$1 · $0.00
Chasing CassandraLisa Kleypas8h 59m4.3 (108.3K)$29 · $0.00
Deeper than the OceanMirta Ojito12h 29m4.4 (927)$29 · $0.00
The Rose CodeKate Quinn16h 2m4.4 (493.7K)$33 · $0.00
Deadly Badlands PursuitSharee Stover5h 53m4.6 (361)$12 · $0.00
Crime and Punishment (The Unabridged Garnett Translation) (Annotated)Fyodor Dostoevsky24h 25m4.5 (15.4K)$1.99 · $0.00
Three ComradesErich Maria Remarque15h 50m4.5 (47.3K)$2 · $0.00
AngelAnita Waller10h 30m4.6 (672)$30 · $0.00
The BorderDon Winslow29h 8m4.5 (35.7K)$53 · $0.00
FlashpointCatherine Coulter11h 38m4.5 (11.6K)$29 · $0.00
The Man in the Brown Suit & They Came to BaghdadAgatha Christie15h 43m4.6 (495)$33 · $0.00
Fang Si-Chi's First Love ParadiseYi-Han Lin8h 25m4.5 (4K)$26 · $0.00
No Woman Left BehindJulie Moffett8h 49m4.5 (3K)$25 · $0.00
CovertJanie Crouch6h 15m4.5 (2K)$12 · $0.00
Cold Case InvestigationNicole Helm5h 30m4.6 (321)$5 · $0.00
The ReunionJana DeLeon6h 31m4.5 (1.6K)$12 · $0.00
Courage Under FireSharon Dunn5h 50m4.5 (730)$24 · $0.00
Decoding the TruthJulie Miller7h 31m4.6 (350)$12 · $0.00
Murder Gone ColdB.J. Daniels5h 50m4.5 (562)$12 · $0.00
Crime and PunishmentFyodor Dostoyevsky23h 14m4.4 (1.3M)$1 · $0.00
Exit FeeBrad Taylor3h 16m4.5 (1.9K)$18 · $0.00
Sworn to ProtectShirlee McCoy5h 7m4.5 (1K)$12 · $0.00
The Alice NetworkKate Quinn15h 7m4.4 (887.1K)$33 · $0.00
You may also like
Eat the DocumentDana Spiotta9h 8m3.7 (4.2K)$26 · $0.00
No Name (Mystery Thriller Classic) (Annotated)Wilkie Collins31h 38m4.1 (14.4K)$2 · $0.00
Shark Skin SuiteTim Dorsey9h 34m4.0 (3.4K)$29 · $0.00
Break Every RuleBrian Freeman12h 1m4.3 (3.5K)$25
Fake IDLamar Giles7h 58m4.0 (4.5K)$26 · $0.00
Barnaby RudgeCharles Dickens28h 18m3.9 (17K)$12 · $0.00
Cabbages and KingsO. Henry7h 2m4.0 (2.3K)$2.30
The Murder RuleDervla McTiernan9h 20m3.8 (40.2K)$8 · $0.00
Walking DeadGreg Rucka9h 11m4.3 (936)$26
Bad MemoriesBlair Howard8h 20m4.4 (3K)$23
Society WomenAdriane Leigh7h 27m3.6 (1.9K)$29 · $0.00
Where Secrets LieColleen Coble, Rick Acker10h 17m4.4 (1.9K)$29 · $0.00
The Last HackChristopher Brookmyre14h 16m4.2 (4K)$23
Unlawful JusticeVish Dhamija7h 56m4.1 (543)$20
Arsène Lupin versus Herlock SholmesMaurice Leblanc7h 31m3.9 (12.2K)$2.30 · $0.00
The Golden TriangleMaurice Leblanc10h 15m4.0 (1K)$2.30 · $0.00
The Crystal StopperMaurice Leblanc8h 49m4.0 (3.6K)$2.30 · $0.00
EvenAndrew Grant10h 11m3.7 (2.1K)$20
The Day of the JackalFrederick Forsyth13h 23m4.3 (170.4K)$23
ManhuntJames L. Swanson15h 34m4.3 (53.1K)$33 · $0.00