Harrison Ainsworth Rookwood and Jack Sheppard

A detailed Summary of Harrison Ainsworth Rookwood and Jack Sheppard

In the early nineteenth century, an interest in criminals and the common highwayman

arose in Europe. Many magazines in London, such as Bentley's Miscellany, Fraser's

Magazine, and The Athenaeum featured sections that were reserved for stories about

highwayman and their numerous adventures. The growing interest in the subject inspired

many authors to write about the various exploits of popular criminals and highwayman.

Some prominent examples of this type of novel were Edward Bulwer's Paul Clifford

(1830) and Eugene Aram (1832); Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist (1838-39) and Barnaby

Rudge (1841); and William Harrison Ainsworth Rookwood (1834) and Jack Sheppard

(1839-40). Several of these novels were based upon famous crimes and criminal careers

of the past (Eugene Aram, Dick Turpin in Rookwood, and Jack Sheppard); others derived

from contemporary crime (Altick, 1970, p. 72). Although many authors chose to base

their stories on criminals, William Harrison Ainsworth's Rookwood and Jack Sheppard

are two of the best examples of the theme of 'crime and punishment' in the nineteenth

Ainsworth started his writing career as a writer of Gothic stories for various

magazines. Gothic elements are included in Ainswo

Exactly why there was so much enthusiasm for these types of novels is a matter

no effect on the plot. He stole a marriage certificate, but the incident was not important

Unreal as he was, Turpin undoubtedly was the cause Rookwood's success. Rookwood

1963, p. 99). Although Turpin appears in a considerable part of the novel, he really has

chimney, and worked his way to freedom through an incredible series of locked doors

for wonder. Ainsworth's novels had, it is true, the elements to make a popular success: a

small. After the escape, Sheppard was caught and returned to Newgate 11 days later. On

but described the escapes in great detail. For example, he escaped from Newgate the first

and walls. After he had escaped, he hid, but he left London only once. Jack went to see

Approximate Word count = 1181
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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