Rookwood (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Historical NovelBy William Harrison Ainsworth
Length19h 15m
About this audiobook
William Harrison Ainsworth's Rookwood (1834) is a vigorous Gothic-historical romance centered on a disputed inheritance, a decaying ancestral estate, and the shadowy glamour of eighteenth-century criminal life. Blending melodrama, antiquarian detail, sensational plotting, and ballad-like lyricism, the novel helped define the "Newgate" mode of fiction, in which thieves and highwaymen are treated with dramatic complexity. Its most famous creation is Dick Turpin, whose legendary ride to York gives the book its enduring momentum and mythic appeal. Ainsworth, born in Manchester in 1805, was trained for the law but drawn irresistibly to literature, history, and the theatrical possibilities of the past. His antiquarian curiosity, interest in old houses and local legends, and fascination with crime narratives all inform Rookwood. The novel's success established him as a major popular historical novelist of the Victorian period and revealed his gift for transforming folklore and archival memory into vivid romance. Rookwood is recommended to readers interested in Gothic fiction, historical romance, Victorian popular culture, or the literary construction of criminal celebrity. Though extravagant by modern standards, it remains a compelling study of inheritance, identity, and legend, and an essential work for understanding nineteenth-century sensational fiction.
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
GenreHorror, Historical Fiction
Length19 hrs 15 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 26, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Introduction
26Chapter 4. The Funeral
2Introduction
27Chapter 5. The Captive
3Synopsis
28Chapter 6. The Apparition
4Historical Context
29BOOK 3. THE GIPSY
5Memoir
30Chapter 1. A Morning Ride
Show all chaptersShow less
6Dedication
31Chapter 2. A Gipsy Encampment
7Preface
32Chapter 3. Sybil
8BOOK 1. THE WEDDING RING
33Chapter 4. Barbara Lovel
9Chapter 1. The Vault
34Chapter 5. The Inauguration
10Chapter 2. The Skeleton Hand
35Chapter 6. Eleanor Mowbray
11Chapter 3. The Park
36Chapter 7. Mrs. Mowbray
12Chapter 4. The Hall
37Chapter 8. The Parting
13Chapter 5. Sir Reginald Rookwood
38Chapter 9. The Philter
14Chapter 6. Sir Piers Rookwood
39Chapter 10. Saint Cyprian’s Cell
15Chapter 7. The Return
40Chapter 11. The Bridal
16Chapter 8. An Irish Adventurer
41Chapter 12. Alan Rookwood
17Chapter 9. An English Adventurer
42Chapter 13. Mr. Coates
18Chapter 10. Ranulph Rookwood
43Chapter 14. Dick Turpin
19Chapter 11. Lady Rookwood
44BOOK 4. THE RIDE TO YORK
20Chapter 12. The Chamber of Death
45Chapter 1. The Rendezvous at Kilburn
21Chapter 13. The Brothers
46Chapter 2. Tom King
22BOOK 2. THE SEXTON
47Chapter 3. A Surprise
23Chapter 1. The Storm
48Chapter 4. The Hue and Cry
24Chapter 2. The Funeral Oration
49Chapter 5. The Short Pipe
25Chapter 3. The Churchyard
50Chapter 6. Black Bess
The Collected Works of William Harrison Ainsworth (Illustrated Edition) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth285h 2m$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 42m$2 · $0.00
The Greatest Novels of William Harrison Ainsworth (Illustrated Edition) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth283h 38m$2 · $0.00
The Lancashire Witches (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth27h 10m$2 · $0.00
Jack Sheppard (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth19h 19m$2 · $0.00
Windsor Castle (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth14h 7m$2 · $0.00
Old St Paul's (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth23h 8m$3 · $0.00
RookwoodWilliam Harrison Ainsworth11h 46m$2 · $0.00
The Tower of LondonWilliam Harrison Ainsworth20h 55m$1 · $0.00
Cardinal Pole; Or, The Days of Philip and MaryWilliam Harrison Ainsworth15h 29m$2 · $0.00
Boscobel; or, the royal oak: A tale of the year 1651William Harrison Ainsworth18h 7m$2 · $0.00
Ovingdean GrangeWilliam Harrison Ainsworth12h 26m$2 · $0.00
Jack SheppardWilliam Harrison Ainsworth17h 56m$2 · $0.00
WILLIAM H. AINSWORTH Ultimate Collection (Illustrated) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth286h 2m$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 2m$1 · $0.00
The Lancashire Witches (Historical Novel)William Harrison Ainsworth27h 5m$2 · $0.00
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (Complete Edition)Arthur Conan Doyle12h 28m$2 · $0.00
DRACULA (Annotated)Bram Stoker17h 56m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Stories & Poems of Edgar Allan PoeEdgar Allan Poe63h$2 · $0.00
A Long Way from OrdinaryAnn Charles, Sam Lucky9h 13m$20
Warrior’s FateWalt Browning10h 37m$20
The Picture of Dorian Gray: The Uncensored 13 Chapter Version + The Revised 20 Chapter Version (Annotated)Oscar Wilde16h 16m$2 · $0.00
The Skull of the WorldKate Forsyth10h 28m5.0 (1)$20
Reign Of AngelsBen Reeder8h 54m5.0 (1)$20
We’re AliveKc Wayland5h 10m$15
The Undead PoolKim Harrison16h 13m$33 · $0.00
Glacier's EdgeR. A. Salvatore13h 44m$33 · $0.00
Haint BlueStephanie Alexander11h 55m$23
The King in Yellow (Annotated)Robert W. Chambers8h 53m$2 · $0.00
Good OmensNeil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett12h 33m$33 · $0.00
Dark of NightJonathan Maberry, Rachael Lavin4h 59m2.0 (1)$20 · $0.00
The Renegade HunterLynsay Sands10h 7m$29 · $0.00
The Fall of the House of CabalJonathan L. Howard14h 54m$23
Lost GodsBrom14h 50m$33 · $0.00
The Complete Works of E. F. Benson (Illustrated)E. F. Benson335h 9m$1 · $0.00
The AccusedJana DeLeon6h 32m5.0 (1)$12 · $0.00
A TALE OF TWO CITIES (Illustrated) (Annotated)Charles Dickens1h 8m$2 · $0.00
War LordBernard Cornwell13h 21m$33 · $0.00
Ivanhoe (Annotated)Walter Scott22h 52m$2 · $0.00
The Complete Jaipur TrilogyAlka Joshi33h 44m$53 · $0.00
The Count of Monte Cristo (With Original Illustrations)Alexandre Dumas54h$1 · $0.00
Scaramouche (Annotated)Rafael Sabatini15h 24m$2 · $0.00
Northern ShadowsDaniel Greene12h 52m$23
The Ghost by the Billabong (The Matilda Saga, #5)Jackie French14h 58m$33 · $0.00
With Fire and Sword (Annotated)Henryk Sienkiewicz36h 6m$2 · $0.00
The Labyrinth of the SpiritsCarlos Ruiz Zafon27h 55m$53 · $0.00
MusashiEiji Yoshikawa53h 20m$30
The Eighth Life (for Brilka)Nino Haratischwili41h 10m$53 · $0.00
War and Peace - The Unabridged Maude Translation (Annotated)Leo Tolstoy64h 48m$2 · $0.00
The Things We Cannot SayKelly Rimmer13h 48m$33 · $0.00
Their Castilian OrphanAnna Belfrage14h 45m$27
Lieutenant Hornblower (Annotated)C. S. Forester11h 41m$2 · $0.00
The Complete 13 Novels & longer fiction: Treasure Island, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, The Black Arrow, Kidnapped, The Master of Ballantrae, The Wrong Box and more...Robert Louis Stevenson106h 29m$1 · $0.00
Eagles over BritainLee Jackson12h 26m$23
Rilla of InglesideLucy Maud Montgomery11h 44m$2 · $0.00
The Viennese DressmakerKathryn Gauci11h 46m$23 · $0.00
You may also like
SarrasineHonoré De Balzac1h 39m$2 · $0.00
That Girl MontanaMarah Ellis Ryan11h 4m$2 · $0.00
The Bandits of the OsageEmerson Bennett11h 26m$2 · $0.00
The Devil's Elixirs (Annotated)E. T. A. Hoffmann16h 16m$2 · $0.00
WILLIAM H. AINSWORTH Ultimate Collection (Illustrated) (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth286h 2m$2 · $0.00
RookwoodWilliam Harrison Ainsworth17h 18m$2.30
A Son of HagarSir Hall Caine16h 5m$1 · $0.00
The Picture of Dorian GrayOscar Wilde9h 4m$15 · $0.00
Castle RichmondAnthony Trollope21h 45m$2.30
The Woman in the Green DressTea Cooper9h 28m$29 · $0.00
Martin GuerreAlexandre Dumas1h 54m$1.20 · $0.00
The VenetiansM. E. Braddon18h 10m$2.40
W. H. Ainsworth Collection: 20+ Historical Novels, Gothic Romances & Adventure Classics (Annotated)William Harrison Ainsworth286h 4m$2 · $0.00
Her Dark InheritanceMrs. E. Burke Collins6h 32m$2 · $0.00
Concert BlackMichael O’Donnell8h 36m$23
Modern FlirtationsCatherine Sinclair17h 12m$2 · $0.00
The Headsman; Or, The Abbaye des VigneronsJames Fenimore Cooper17h 30m$2 · $0.00
The Trail of the SerpentMary Elizabeth Braddon16h 33m$2 · $0.00
Merkland Self SacrificeMrs Oliphant18h 18m$2.30
The Last Truehart: Thrilling historical detective adventure fiction from a bestselling Australian author.Darry Fraser13h 31m$33 · $0.00