William Harrison Ainsworth

Born in Manchester in 1805, William Harrison Ainsworth trained in law but was drawn much more strongly to literature. He moved into London literary circles early in life and went on to build a long career as a novelist, editor, and magazine man.

His breakthrough came with Rookwood in 1834, and he became especially famous for historical novels including Jack Sheppard, The Tower of London, and Old St. Paul's. Readers were drawn to his lively storytelling and richly staged historical settings, even when critics thought his characters and plots were less subtle than those of some contemporaries.

Ainsworth published dozens of novels over more than fifty years and remained a recognizable figure in Victorian literary life. Although his reputation faded after his death in 1882, he still holds an important place in the history of popular historical fiction.