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
Rating★★★★ 4.2 (12)
Includes Amazon
GenreRomance, Historical Fiction
Length19 hrs 15 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateJan 26, 2020
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions & Death's Duel (Annotated)
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
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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
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