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The Star-Chamber: An Historical Romance
by William Harrison Ainsworth, "Phiz" Hablot Knight Browne (Illustrator)
William Harrison Ainsworth
The Star-Chamber: An Historical Romance
by William Harrison Ainsworth, "Phiz" Hablot Knight Browne (Illustrator)
William Harrison Ainsworth
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Overview
This edition is complete, unabridged.
* * * * *
"The Star Chamber" first appeared as a serial in a rather strange place, the family journal called "The Home Companion," where the story was well illustrated by George Measom. The first edition, in two volumes, was published early in 1854 by Routledge, and the first illustrated edition, containing several plates by "Phiz," followed in 1857. "The Star Chamber" was originally inscribed to a valued friend of the author — Mrs. Mostyn, of Sillwood House, Brighton; she was Cecilia, youngest surviving daughter of Mrs. Thrale, and had, of course, known Dr. Johnson well in her youth.
As its title portends, "The Star Chamber" relates to that strange, arbitrary judicature exercised, in both criminal and civil cases, by the king's council, and which probably took its name from the star-decorated chamber in Westminster Hall where the council met. Ainsworth's novel describes the Star Chamber at the height of its power in the reign of James I, when its methods, penalties, and punishments almost rivalled those of the Spanish Inquisition; and when its privileges were abused by the King to aid and cover the extortionate monopolies he granted to his rapacious favourites. James I, and Buckingham, and other courtiers, are prominent characters in this romance, in which Ainsworth again indulged to the full his taste for minutely describing the gorgeous, bejewelled costumes of the men of the period, and the profuse banquets then in vogue. The opening scene at the "Three Cranes" Tavern in the Vintry (a hostelry mentioned in the pages of both Ben Jonson and Pepys) is very vivid. Later on, there is a fine picture of Jacobean channing delineation of May-Day revels at Tottenham.
Ainsworth was pre-eminently the chronicler of England in her "merrie daies "he always recounted with enthusiastic delight the simple pleasures and customs of bygone times. "The Star Chamber," albeit the long arm of coincidence is sometimes unduly stretched, and the machinery of its plot rather conventionally melodramatic, but is, nonetheless, as good an historical novel and a sparkling picture of English manners in the time of the first Stuart king.
* * * * *
"The Star Chamber" first appeared as a serial in a rather strange place, the family journal called "The Home Companion," where the story was well illustrated by George Measom. The first edition, in two volumes, was published early in 1854 by Routledge, and the first illustrated edition, containing several plates by "Phiz," followed in 1857. "The Star Chamber" was originally inscribed to a valued friend of the author — Mrs. Mostyn, of Sillwood House, Brighton; she was Cecilia, youngest surviving daughter of Mrs. Thrale, and had, of course, known Dr. Johnson well in her youth.
As its title portends, "The Star Chamber" relates to that strange, arbitrary judicature exercised, in both criminal and civil cases, by the king's council, and which probably took its name from the star-decorated chamber in Westminster Hall where the council met. Ainsworth's novel describes the Star Chamber at the height of its power in the reign of James I, when its methods, penalties, and punishments almost rivalled those of the Spanish Inquisition; and when its privileges were abused by the King to aid and cover the extortionate monopolies he granted to his rapacious favourites. James I, and Buckingham, and other courtiers, are prominent characters in this romance, in which Ainsworth again indulged to the full his taste for minutely describing the gorgeous, bejewelled costumes of the men of the period, and the profuse banquets then in vogue. The opening scene at the "Three Cranes" Tavern in the Vintry (a hostelry mentioned in the pages of both Ben Jonson and Pepys) is very vivid. Later on, there is a fine picture of Jacobean channing delineation of May-Day revels at Tottenham.
Ainsworth was pre-eminently the chronicler of England in her "merrie daies "he always recounted with enthusiastic delight the simple pleasures and customs of bygone times. "The Star Chamber," albeit the long arm of coincidence is sometimes unduly stretched, and the machinery of its plot rather conventionally melodramatic, but is, nonetheless, as good an historical novel and a sparkling picture of English manners in the time of the first Stuart king.
Product Details
| BN ID: | 2940186653479 |
|---|---|
| Publisher: | Anthony Bly |
| Publication date: | 11/26/2022 |
| Sold by: | Barnes & Noble |
| Format: | eBook |
| Sales rank: | 598,313 |
| File size: | 2 MB |
About the Author
William Harrison Ainsworth was one of England's Greatest Historians said in the Edinburgh Reveiw:
“When I devour the pregnant pages of Ainsworth I am lost in amazement that his wonderful historical novels have not an abiding place in every house. A dabbler na in history myself, I can fully appreciate the charm which his romantic style imparts to an often dry subject. His close adherence to established facts woven together in such attractive form renders his series of romances indispensible in the family circle. He always charms, but never misleads."
Ainsworth has done for English history what Dumas pere did for the French: Both wrote romances, interwoven with history, in such a way that they occupy the foremost place as historical romancers in the literary annals of these countries. Ainsworth spun his web of fiction about the courts of Windsor, St. James, the Louvre, and the Escorial, and he is never so happy as when picturing Charles II and his madcap court at Whitehall, his witty sayings and his galaxy of beauties, the piquant Louise de Queroualle, the dazzling duchesses, poor bewitching Nelly, and, large as life, Sir Peter Lely a-painting of them. The gay court at Paris is shown at its most interesting period; Crichton, the Admirable, was a brilliant Scotsman, whose handsome person, accomplishments, and courage, earned for him Othat title. The scene is laid during the time of Catherine de' Medici, and is full of the intrigues of Henry III, the incognito adventures of bon Henri of Navarre.
Probably no more graphic accounts have ever been written of the Plague of London and of the Great Fire than those in “Old Saint Paul's," and few historical works contain the equal of the descriptive writing in “Cardinal Pole, Cardinal Pole," "The Constable of the Tower,” or “The Star-Chamber.” In “ John Law” is given an extraodinarily interesting account of the Mississippi bubble and of the varied Fata career of the great promoter.
To Ainsworth's skill and energy we are indebted for brilliant pictures of the Tower of London, Theobald's, Tower Hill, Newgate, Ranleigh Gardens, etc., which he peopled with realistic portraits of the most interesting characters in English history-of Henry VIII, his wives, daughters, cardinals, and headsmen ;-of Queen Anne, of the Duchess Sarah, and her Duke of Marlborough ;-of the Lord Mayor of London and his prentice-town, etc., etc.
Ainsworth, born in 1805, carried on the work in historical romance ended by the death of Walter Scott.
“When I devour the pregnant pages of Ainsworth I am lost in amazement that his wonderful historical novels have not an abiding place in every house. A dabbler na in history myself, I can fully appreciate the charm which his romantic style imparts to an often dry subject. His close adherence to established facts woven together in such attractive form renders his series of romances indispensible in the family circle. He always charms, but never misleads."
Ainsworth has done for English history what Dumas pere did for the French: Both wrote romances, interwoven with history, in such a way that they occupy the foremost place as historical romancers in the literary annals of these countries. Ainsworth spun his web of fiction about the courts of Windsor, St. James, the Louvre, and the Escorial, and he is never so happy as when picturing Charles II and his madcap court at Whitehall, his witty sayings and his galaxy of beauties, the piquant Louise de Queroualle, the dazzling duchesses, poor bewitching Nelly, and, large as life, Sir Peter Lely a-painting of them. The gay court at Paris is shown at its most interesting period; Crichton, the Admirable, was a brilliant Scotsman, whose handsome person, accomplishments, and courage, earned for him Othat title. The scene is laid during the time of Catherine de' Medici, and is full of the intrigues of Henry III, the incognito adventures of bon Henri of Navarre.
Probably no more graphic accounts have ever been written of the Plague of London and of the Great Fire than those in “Old Saint Paul's," and few historical works contain the equal of the descriptive writing in “Cardinal Pole, Cardinal Pole," "The Constable of the Tower,” or “The Star-Chamber.” In “ John Law” is given an extraodinarily interesting account of the Mississippi bubble and of the varied Fata career of the great promoter.
To Ainsworth's skill and energy we are indebted for brilliant pictures of the Tower of London, Theobald's, Tower Hill, Newgate, Ranleigh Gardens, etc., which he peopled with realistic portraits of the most interesting characters in English history-of Henry VIII, his wives, daughters, cardinals, and headsmen ;-of Queen Anne, of the Duchess Sarah, and her Duke of Marlborough ;-of the Lord Mayor of London and his prentice-town, etc., etc.
Ainsworth, born in 1805, carried on the work in historical romance ended by the death of Walter Scott.
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