The Manchester Rebels of the Fatal '45

Name: The Manchester Rebels of the Fatal '45
Author: William Harrison Ainsworth

By William Harrison Ainsworth

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

British Literature Novels

About This Book

The narrative reconstructs mid-eighteenth-century Manchester at the time of the Jacobite rising, following the advance and lodging of the claimant and Highland chiefs in the town and the varied responses of its inhabitants. Interweaving material from memoirs and a contemporary journal, it portrays street scenes, personal anecdotes, and encounters between rebels and townspeople, introduces local figures remembered with sympathy, and stages a tragic episode set in an old moated hall. The work emphasizes vanished architecture and communal memory while balancing historical detail with dramatized episodes and illustrative vignettes drawn from local tradition.

About the Author

William Harrison Ainsworth

William Harrison Ainsworth was an English historical novelist and playwright, active during the 19th century. He is best known for his vivid storytelling and engaging historical narratives, which often blend fact with fiction. Ainsworth's notable works include "Jack Sheppard," a tale of a notorious criminal, and "Old Saint Paul's," which explores the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London. His novels frequently feature themes of adventure and romance, set against richly detailed historical backdrops. Ainsworth's contributions to literature reflect the Victorian fascination with history and the dramatic, making him a significant figure in the genre of historical fiction.