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William Harrison Ainsworth Papers

Date range: 1825 - 1911

Medium: Printed

Number of items: Archive

Dating mainly from the 1820s to the 1890s, this collection of works by and about the Manchester-born novelist William Harrison Ainsworth (1805-82) was assembled over a 50-year period by the Connecticut businessman and collector, Joseph Palmer Hunt (1927-2011). Ainsworth was known for his historical novels, especially those set in his native Lancashire. He wrote 40 novels, featuring historical romance, famous criminals and his notable successes include Rookwood, Jack Sheppard, the Lancashire Witches, Mervyn Clitheroe, Guy Fawkes and Windsor Castle. He initially worked as a lawyer, and then a publisher before finding success as a novelist, and also edited several magazines, including his own Ainsworth’s Magazine.

This small collection consists of short manuscript excerpts of published and unpublished works by Ainsworth, including The Tower of London, Guy Fawkes and several pieces of poetry. Also included are 7 publishing agreements, mostly with George Routledge & Co., 37 letters from Ainsworth to his publisher Richard Bentley relating to his early novels, and 17 letters by Ainsworth to friends and family, including his daughter Fanny, John Ashton, George Cruikshank, John Franklin and John Macrone. There is additional secondary material relating to writing and reviews of Ainsworth by other authors.

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