Henry Esmond

historical novel by Thackeray

Also known as: “The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.”

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In full:: The History of Henry Esmond, Esq.

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Henry Esmond, historical novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, published in three volumes in 1852.

The story, narrated by Esmond, begins in 1691 when he is 12 and ends in 1718. Its complexity of incident is given unity by Esmond and his second cousin Beatrix, who stand out against a background of London society and the political life of the time. Beatrix dominates the book. She is seen first as a charming child and develops beauty combined with a power that is fatal to the men she loves. One of Thackeray’s great creations, she is a heroine of a new type, emotionally complex and compelling but not a pattern of virtue. Esmond, a sensitive, brave, aristocratic soldier, falls in love with her but is finally disillusioned. Befriended as an orphan by Beatrix’s parents, Lord and Lady Castlewood, Henry initially adores Lady Castlewood as a mother and eventually, in his maturity, marries her.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.