First published in 1834, &ldquo;Rookwood&rdquo; is a historical and gothic romance by William Harrison Ainsworth.<br /><br />&ldquo;Rookwood&rdquo; is a rich and complex Gothic-Romance centring on the murky deeds of an ancient family, it describes a dispute over the legitimate claim for the inheritance of Rookwood Place and the Rookwood family name.<br />The novel is a wonderfully atmospheric piece that combines narrative, poetry, song, and descriptive writing to great effect. The character of Dick Turpin that we know today - the dashing highwaymen and unmatched horseman - can be said to stem directly from this novel, as the most famous part of the book (often published on its own in the past), <i>Turpin&rsquo;s Ride To York</i>, is devoted to him. Although seemingly little known to a modern audience, Ainsworth&rsquo;s &quot;Rookwood&quot; gave the world the image of the highwayman with which we are all so familiar.