tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post428588052708393345..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Romancing the Tower of London: William Harrison AinsworthDebra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-50076490717096683792020-01-19T00:01:09.593-08:002020-01-19T00:01:09.593-08:00As earlier Comments illustrate, this is most defin...As earlier Comments illustrate, this is most definitely a post to resurrect. I thank the EHFA editors for doing so, as it's the first I've heard of William Harrison Ainsworth, the "neck-and-axe romancer"!Linda Acasterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03096791092366530129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-76657128835973550912016-05-28T10:20:34.644-07:002016-05-28T10:20:34.644-07:00I think at his best his books are genuinely imagin...I think at his best his books are genuinely imaginative entertaining. As a youngster,I particularly enjoyed 'Rookwood','The Lancashire Witches','Windsor Castle' and 'The Tower of London'.His evocation of the mysterious Herne the Hunter and the moonlit forest in 'Windsor Castle' is quite magical. His narrative style has a certain vigour and I would prefer reading WH Ainsworth at his best to Charles Dickens,any day! Not that I would care to compare the two;and I think it would be unfair to do so. Ainsworth merely set out to write racy,historical fiction. I don't think he would ever have compared himself to Dickens. He was merely writing popular fiction to entertain the masses. <br />On the downside;he wrote too much,and even I gave up on some of the other novels I encountered. Harrison Ainsworth will never be entirely forgotten,at least by those who enjoy trawling seconhand bookshops and unearthing obscure titles by forgotten or neglected authors. Marie Corelli is another one I enjoy. jones the bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14677734407039859675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-25277333721269345562012-08-30T07:08:05.668-07:002012-08-30T07:08:05.668-07:00Nancy, in addition to making the Tower of London a...Nancy, in addition to making the Tower of London a great tourist destination, could we say that William Harrison Ainsworth contributed to the romantic and tragic victimhood of the Nine Days Queen, Jane Dudley (she was married to John Dudley's son Guildford, after all)? Of course, the Delaroche painting of her execution adds to her reputation as a poor victim--but I thought that Leanda de Lisle provided much evidence to the contrary althought Eric Ives disagrees. I'd be interested in your opinion and other input from the community. Thanks.Stephanie A. Mannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14796489639420491857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-23181160111330128722012-08-25T15:14:50.816-07:002012-08-25T15:14:50.816-07:00I want to be an idle dog! Great post. I've bee...I want to be an idle dog! Great post. I've been reading Mark Twain lately and notice that he saved some of his worst criticism for other writers. He wanted to exhume Jane Austen and beat her to death all over again with her own shin bone, and thought Hart Crane was fit only for propping up on some street corner as "a convenience for dogs." Rough and ready times, maybe? Grace Burroweshttp://graceburrowes.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-74236413754615401272012-08-21T21:19:00.412-07:002012-08-21T21:19:00.412-07:00This one looks really great! I love reading histo...This one looks really great! I love reading historical fiction because I tend to learn stuff that I otherwise wouldn't have. I have just finished a great historical fiction,"Kincaid and the Legal Massacre" by Curtis D. Carney about the the illegal killing and halt of the extinction of the northern fur seal during the turn of the century. I had no idea any of this happened- There were people fighting to protect the seals while trying to protect the wives from freelance kidnappers. Great book full of intrigue and romance. Can't wait to check out "Romancing the Tower of London." Thank you for suggesting it.<br /><a href="http://www.insightpressbooks.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.insightpressbooks.com/</a>Beckyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05957358850375701366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-1297228008775779832012-08-20T19:56:16.449-07:002012-08-20T19:56:16.449-07:00Fascinating piece!Fascinating piece!Susie Calkinshttp://www.susannacalkins.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-32745476165480838042012-08-20T11:14:08.959-07:002012-08-20T11:14:08.959-07:00Gigi:
I was researching the Tower of London during...Gigi:<br />I was researching the Tower of London during the Tudor era for my book and I came across the title of Ainsworth's book. It made me smile: "The Tower of London: A Historical Romance." Romance?? I put the discovery in the back of my mind. But recently I started wondering about Ainsworth, and I did some research. he is quite an interesting person--there is some poignancy to his life. Today, historical novelists have to take some grief from the critics, but it was nothing compared to the 19th century! That was pretty illuminating. Nancy Bilyeauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03081147714919653976noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-11762485619935905592012-08-20T11:07:45.733-07:002012-08-20T11:07:45.733-07:00What an informative post! I will definitely read T...What an informative post! I will definitely read The Tower of London. When did you first discover William Harrison Ainsworth, Nancy?Gigi Amateauhttp://www.gigiamateau.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-34756031368811844362012-08-20T07:14:26.853-07:002012-08-20T07:14:26.853-07:00I'd never heard of WHA before, Nancy. But now ...I'd never heard of WHA before, Nancy. But now I want to read his Tower of London novel. Thanks for this fascinating and beautifully written post!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-31109050529048800092012-08-20T07:06:48.667-07:002012-08-20T07:06:48.667-07:00Harrison Ainsworth was the author who 'invente...Harrison Ainsworth was the author who 'invented' the legend of Dick Turpin and his ride from London to York on Black Bess in his novel Rookwood - although it was another highwayman named 'Swift Nick Nevison' who actually made the ride. Many people have heard of Dick Turpin but I wonder how many could identify William Harrison Ainsworth as its author.<br /><br />When he was an articled clerk in Manchester he used to go and write in Chetham's library when he should have been studying law texts. His father said: 'He is an idle dog; he will never work.'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-84424383534485858912012-08-20T05:34:38.761-07:002012-08-20T05:34:38.761-07:00I have several early 20th century editions of his ...I have several early 20th century editions of his books but haven't read them yet. Perhaps I should try one...Daphnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12838072651419264066noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-48197185871955261062012-08-20T05:14:57.035-07:002012-08-20T05:14:57.035-07:00Thank you for bringing a forgotten author to the f...Thank you for bringing a forgotten author to the forefront. I visited the Tower many years ago and remember the prison cell of the tragic Lady Jane.Diane Scott Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05724042672923318289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-1610763693014398842012-08-20T00:35:34.265-07:002012-08-20T00:35:34.265-07:00My aim now is to be a neck-and-axe romancer! Thank...My aim now is to be a neck-and-axe romancer! Thank you for such an informative post.Frances Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04844654551121374440noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-57973250966587813032012-08-19T22:54:30.877-07:002012-08-19T22:54:30.877-07:00A fascinating and enjoyable read, Nancy. Poor Ains...A fascinating and enjoyable read, Nancy. Poor Ainsworth!<br /><br />I'm going to have to visit the Tower again. I have no memory of anything except the crown jewels and some of those torture implements you mention. This is perhaps due to the fact that I was there with two pre-adolescent boys. Patricia Bracewellhttp://www.patriciabracewell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-12457257503796775792012-08-19T22:15:25.512-07:002012-08-19T22:15:25.512-07:00Thank you for the informative review, Nancy! I nev...Thank you for the informative review, Nancy! I never knew this much about Ainsworth. I'd like to read his book on The Tower.DawnCorleonenoreply@blogger.com