num_pages: 556
description: ""The History of Henry Esmond, Esquire"" is a historical novel written by William Makepeace Thackeray. The story is set in the early 18th century and follows the life of Henry Esmond, a young orphan who is raised by his aristocratic relatives in England. As he grows older, Henry becomes a soldier and serves in the British army during the War of the Spanish Succession.Throughout the novel, Henry struggles to reconcile his loyalty to his family and his duty to his country. He also falls in love with his cousin, Lady Castlewood, but their relationship is complicated by her marriage to another man.As the story unfolds, Henry becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow the reigning monarch, Queen Anne, and replace her with the exiled James Stuart. He is eventually caught up in a web of political intrigue and must choose between his loyalty to his family and his allegiance to the crown.""The History of Henry Esmond, Esquire"" is a richly detailed and complex novel that explores themes of love, loyalty, and betrayal. Thackeray's vivid descriptions of life in 18th century England and his nuanced portrayal of his characters make this a timeless classic of English literature.1906. Vanity Fair is Thackeray's masterpiece, but he also showed great skill in writing historical fiction with fine attention to period manners and customs and a dispassionate sympathy for his character's actions. Considered by some to be one of the finest novels in the English language, The History of Henry Esmond, opens with Lady Castlewood stumbling upon Henry, the illegitimate cousin her husband has inherited along with his estate. They welcome Henry as part of their family, but as time goes on he begins to believe that this blessing may be more complex than appears at first glance. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
language: English
title: The History of Henry Esmond, Esquire
titlecomplete: The History of Henry Esmond, Esquire
characters: Thomas Tusher, Lord Mohun, Joseph Addison, Henry Esmond, Jonathan Swift, Beatrix Castlewood, Viscountess Rachel Castlewood, Richard Steele, Viscount Francis Castlewood, Frank Castlewood
genres: Victorian, Fiction, Literature, Historical Fiction, Classics, Novels, Historical, 19th Century, Classic Literature, British Literature
ratings_count: 1072
places: England
publisher: Kessinger Publishing