The History of Henry Esmond is a historical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, charting the life of the illegitimate son of a Jacobite colonel during the early 18th century. The protagonist, Esmond's winding journey through love, war and intrigue draws a detailed and captivating portrait of English society during the time of Queen Anne's Reign.

Titlepage

Imprint

Dedication

Preface

I: An Account of the Family of Esmond of Castlewood Hall

II: Relates How Francis, Fourth Viscount, Arrives at Castlewood

III: Whither in the Time of Thomas, Third Viscount, I Had Preceded Him as Page to Isabella

IV: I Am Placed Under a Popish Priest and Bred to That Religion—Viscountess Castlewood

V: My Superiors Are Engaged in Plots for the Restoration of King James II

VI: The Issue of the Plots—The Death of Thomas, Third Viscount of Castlewood; and the Imprisonment of His Viscountess

VII: I Am Left at Castlewood an Orphan, and Find Most Kind Protectors There

VIII: After Good Fortune Comes Evil

IX: I Have the Smallpox, and Prepare to Leave Castlewood

X: I Go to Cambridge, and Do but Little Good There

XI: I Come Home for a Holiday to Castlewood, and Find a Skeleton in the House

XII: My Lord Mohun Comes Among Us for No Good

XIII: My Lord Leaves Us and His Evil Behind Him

XIV: We Ride After Him to London

Book I: The Early Youth of Henry Esmond, Up to the Time of His Leaving Trinity College, in Cambridge

I: I Am in Prison, and Visited, but Not Consoled There

II: I Come to the End of My Captivity, but Not of My Trouble

III: I Take the Queen’s Pay in Quin’s Regiment

IV: Recapitulations

V: I Go on the Vigo Bay Expedition, Taste Saltwater and Smell Powder

VI: The 29th December

VII: I Am Made Welcome at Walcote

VIII: Family Talk

IX: I Make the Campaign of 1704

X: An Old Story About a Fool and a Woman

XI: The Famous Mr. Joseph Addison

XII: I Get a Company in the Campaign of 1706

XIII: I Meet an Old Acquaintance in Flanders, and Find My Mother’s Grave and My Own Cradle There

XIV: The Campaign of 1707, 1708

XV: General Webb Wins the Battle of Wynendael

Book II: Contains Mr. Esmond’s Military Life, and Other Matters Appertaining to the Esmond Family

I: I Come to an End of My Battles and Bruises

II: I Go Home, and Harp on the Old String

III: A Paper Out of the Spectator

IV: Beatrix’s New Suitor

V: Mohun Appears for the Last Time in This History

VI: Poor Beatrix

VII: I Visit Castlewood Once More

VIII: I Travel to France and Bring Home a Portrait of Rigaud

IX: The Original of the Portrait Comes to England

X: We Entertain a Very Distinguished Guest at Kensington

XI: Our Guest Quits Us as Not Being Hospitable Enough

XII: A Great Scheme, and Who Balked It

XIII: August 1st, 1714

Book III: Containing the End of Mr. Esmond’s Adventures in England

The History of Henry Esmond

Endnotes

Colophon

Uncopyright

historical_fiction

romance

fiction