William Harrison Ainsworth

William Harrison Ainsworth (1805-1882) was an English historical novelist born in Manchester. His first success as a writer came with Rookwood in 1834, which features Dick Turpin as its leading character. A stream of 39 novels followed. 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 are regarded as his most successful novels. He was very popular in his lifetime and his novels sold in large numbers. Windsor Castle focusing on Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn sold a staggering 30.000 copies in the first month after it was published.