Novels of William Harrison Ainsworth

London: George Routledge and Co, 1875-83. Leather. Good. 9" by 6". Hablot K. Browne; John Gilbert; George Cruikshank. A finely bound, illustrated set of the novels of William Harrison Ainsworth. William Harrison Ainsworth (4 February 1805 – 3 January 1882) was an English historical novelist born in Manchester. His Lancashire novels cover altogether 400 years and include The Lancashire Witches, 1848, Mervyn Clitheroe, 1857, and The Leaguer of Lathom. Jack Sheppard, Guy Fawkes, 1841, Old St Paul's, 1841, Windsor Castle, 1843, and The Lancashire Witches are regarded as his most successful novels. He was very popular in his lifetime and his novels sold in large numbers, but his reputation has not lasted well. As John William Cousin argues, he depends for his effects on striking situations and powerful descriptions. Containing: Ovingdean Grange The Flitch of Bacon Guy Fawkes Boscobel Windsor Castle Rookwood Auriol Crichton Jack Sheppard The Lancashire Witches The Spendthrift The Tower of London (in two volumes) The Miser's Daughter Mervyn Clitheroe Old St Paul's The Star Chamber Illustrated throughout with two hundred and sixty-seven engraved plates (counted, no collation available), plus many more vignettes, by Hablot K. Browne, John Gilbert, and George Cruikshank. Complete in sixteen volumes. In green half-calf bindings. Externally, sound, though with some dampstaining to the boards and rubbing to the extremities. Some slight wear to the leather on the front boards also. Most front hinges are strained, and both hinges of The Tower of London have failed, leaving the textblock detached. Internally, generally firmly bound although strained in places. Pages are bright, though with the occasional patch of foxing and some tidemarks to two volumes. Good