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Jack Sheppard (Pocket Penguin Classics)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
A master of drinking, whoring, theft - and escape!
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. Soon he is one of the most famous scoundrels in the city - not for his crimes, but for the wonderful fact that not one of the King's fine prisons can hold him.
But Jack's luck will have to run out eventually...
About the Author
William Harrison Ainsworth (4 February 1805 - 3 January 1882) was an English historical novelist born in Manchester. He trained as a lawyer, but the legal profession had no attraction for him. While completing his legal studies in London he met the publisher John Ebers, at that time manager of the King's Theatre, Haymarket. Bears introduced Ainsworth to literary and dramatic circles, and to his daughter, who became Ainsworth's wife. Ainsworth briefly tried the publishing business, but soon gave it up and devoted himself to journalism and literature. 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 last appearing in 1881. Ainsworth died in Reigate on 3 January 1882
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ainsworth, who is remembered for his novel Rookwood and its character Dick Turpin wrote this novel at more or less the peak of the so called 'Newgate Novels', a genre that lasted for about twenty years.
Jack Sheppard was a real criminal and is best remembered for his escapes rather than for his crimes, indeed he escaped four times from gaol before he was eventually hanged. Along with 'Blueskin' they were really the two that ultimately led to the hanging of Jonathan Wild, the notorious 'Thief-Taker General'. Following Jack from his early years and throughout his life to his death this novel paints a picture of the squalor and crime that was prevalent in the early 18th Century. Being no normal police force at the time, only the City Watch, thief-takers were a type of bounty hunter who would solve the crimes for those who could afford it, taking a percentage of the value of the goods, and gaining a bounty on those who were hanged. As one can imagine, the system was rife with corruption and people like Jonathan Wild would organise crimes so that they could make money. Wild would sometimes give up those who he had used to commit crimes to get the bounty on them.
Jack gradually finds himslf being seduced into a life of crime, like his father before him and falling under Wild's machinations. But like Jack's dad it is only a matter of time before Wild peaches on him and gives him up to the gallows. With Jack's daring escapes he captured the heart of the masses and became famous, resulting in his entry into common folklore.
This is a really good novel, but remember that like anything written at this time (Oliver Twist was being serialised along with this tale) it is full of melodrama and may not appeal to everyone. This is well worth a read, esecially if you like true crime stories, or just a good read. And if you are familiar with Ainsworth's writings you will know that there is more to the story than this, what with another boy, Thames Darrell who has been done out of his birthright.
Jack Sheppard was a real criminal and is best remembered for his escapes rather than for his crimes, indeed he escaped four times from gaol before he was eventually hanged. Along with 'Blueskin' they were really the two that ultimately led to the hanging of Jonathan Wild, the notorious 'Thief-Taker General'. Following Jack from his early years and throughout his life to his death this novel paints a picture of the squalor and crime that was prevalent in the early 18th Century. Being no normal police force at the time, only the City Watch, thief-takers were a type of bounty hunter who would solve the crimes for those who could afford it, taking a percentage of the value of the goods, and gaining a bounty on those who were hanged. As one can imagine, the system was rife with corruption and people like Jonathan Wild would organise crimes so that they could make money. Wild would sometimes give up those who he had used to commit crimes to get the bounty on them.
Jack gradually finds himslf being seduced into a life of crime, like his father before him and falling under Wild's machinations. But like Jack's dad it is only a matter of time before Wild peaches on him and gives him up to the gallows. With Jack's daring escapes he captured the heart of the masses and became famous, resulting in his entry into common folklore.
This is a really good novel, but remember that like anything written at this time (Oliver Twist was being serialised along with this tale) it is full of melodrama and may not appeal to everyone. This is well worth a read, esecially if you like true crime stories, or just a good read. And if you are familiar with Ainsworth's writings you will know that there is more to the story than this, what with another boy, Thames Darrell who has been done out of his birthright.
Format:Paperback
Harrison Ainsworth, writing at the start of the Victorian era, is a fascinating author, very much of his time.
To my mind his "Jack Sheppard" is fascinating on 3 levels:
1)Influenced by Sir Walter Scott, he is a fine example of the historical novelists of his day: his plot is interrupted at intervals by factual and geographical descriptions, and moral maxims, which are typical of his era. Anyone interested in the history of literarure would therefore be interested.
b)Jack's personal life is not of much substance, but Ainsworth hangs his whole account on real events running from the Great Storm of 1703 to Jack's hanging at Tyburn in 1724, via the London slums, the 1715 Jacobite Revolt, Jonathan Wild and the thieftakers, Newgate Gaol, and the ghastly judicial custom as the "peine forte et dure" interrogation. Apart from the storm, Jack's escape from Newgate and his journey to Tyburn are the most fully and vividly related.
Ainsworth is ingenious in bringing just about every notable person and event of the period into the story.
The novel is therefore not a bad introduction to the history of the time. When I first read it as a child it caused me to go off and read up that history.
Incidentally Sheppard was a real criminal, but it is really Wild, the original "bent copper", who is of most interest.
c)As the other reviewer says, it is also a good page-turning read.
So not highly accurate and scholarly history, and not a stream-of-consciousness modern novel, but a good read. Scots will object, but I think that at his best (as here) Ainsworth was a better writer than Sir Walter. I think his plots are stronger and his style is less clumsy.
To my mind his "Jack Sheppard" is fascinating on 3 levels:
1)Influenced by Sir Walter Scott, he is a fine example of the historical novelists of his day: his plot is interrupted at intervals by factual and geographical descriptions, and moral maxims, which are typical of his era. Anyone interested in the history of literarure would therefore be interested.
b)Jack's personal life is not of much substance, but Ainsworth hangs his whole account on real events running from the Great Storm of 1703 to Jack's hanging at Tyburn in 1724, via the London slums, the 1715 Jacobite Revolt, Jonathan Wild and the thieftakers, Newgate Gaol, and the ghastly judicial custom as the "peine forte et dure" interrogation. Apart from the storm, Jack's escape from Newgate and his journey to Tyburn are the most fully and vividly related.
Ainsworth is ingenious in bringing just about every notable person and event of the period into the story.
The novel is therefore not a bad introduction to the history of the time. When I first read it as a child it caused me to go off and read up that history.
Incidentally Sheppard was a real criminal, but it is really Wild, the original "bent copper", who is of most interest.
c)As the other reviewer says, it is also a good page-turning read.
So not highly accurate and scholarly history, and not a stream-of-consciousness modern novel, but a good read. Scots will object, but I think that at his best (as here) Ainsworth was a better writer than Sir Walter. I think his plots are stronger and his style is less clumsy.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
1 review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Bravo Broadview Press!!!! An amazing edition of a thrilling old book
19 Feb 2008
Format:Paperback
Three cheers for Broadview press! This edition of a totally thrilling victorian novel is perfect in every way- This is one of those great old novels that you will not put down- no wonder the victorians were suspitious of Crime Fiction- who wants to work when we can get lost in a great book? This book is a riot- and a blast to teach too- If you like Sensation fiction like "East Lynne" or Penny Dreadfuls like "Varney the Vampire" then Jack Sheppard is a great book to turn to- Who knew reading could be this much fun!
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