William Harrison Ainsworth: 70 books

*** Original and Unabridged Content. Made available by GOLDEN CLASSIC PRESS*** Synopsis: While Jack Sheppard seems marked from birth for a terrible end, his wit and charm might just be able to cheat fate. Fate, however, seems eager to cheat him out of an honest living, when Jack begins visiting the notorious Black Lion, drinking den of the worst criminals in London.

This tale of horror and mayhem, written more than 150 years ago, features the use of somewhat archaic language in parts.  A very long novel (more than 230,000 words), complex and terrifying, this tale has been talked about by many for a long, long time, including the making of several motion pictures.  Not to be missed, this tale is one of the strangest you will ever read.

Excerpt: “She was still pacing the lawn with distracted steps, when a well-known voice called out to her, and a tall figure emerged from the shade of the cedars, and Mildred uttered a cry of mingled surprise and delight.”

Chancing to be in Rome in the August of 1830, I visited the gorgeous church of Santa Maria Maggiore during the celebration of the anniversary of the Holy Assumption. It was a glorious sight to one unaccustomed to the imposing religious ceremonials of the Romish church, to witness all the pomp and splendour...

The tyrannical measures adopted against the Roman Catholics in the early part of the reign of James the First, when the severe penal enactments against recusants were revived, and with additional rigour, and which led to the remarkable conspiracy about to be related, have been so forcibly and faithfully...

A strange tale of a doctor and a patient who is given a drink...and then, the mystery begins. Quite a strange little thriller.

One morning, at this juncture, the young earl, mounted on his favourite dapple-grey steed, rode out from the castle, and took his way down the chestnut avenue, accompanied by his brother, Charles Radclyffe. The two young equestrians made a very gallant appearance, being attired in scarlet riding-coats,...

THE MANCHESTER REBELS OF THE FATAL '45 All my early life being spent in Manchester, where I was born, bred, and schooled, I am naturally familiar with the scenes I have attempted to depict in this Tale. Little of the old town, however, is now left. The lover of antiquity—if any such should visit...

The Sixteenth Century drew to a close. It was the last day of the last year, and two hours only were wanting to the birth of another year and of another century. The night was solemn and beautiful. Myriads of stars paved the deep vault of heaven; the crescent moon hung like a silver lamp in the midst...

“Old Saint Paul's: A Tale of the Plague and the Fire” is a historical romance that describes the events of the Great Plague of London and the Great Fire of London.