Sign in Subscribe

The History of Henry Esmond by William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray published The History of Henry Esmond in 1852 as a deliberate departure from the sentimental novels of his era. He sought to…

The History of Henry Esmond by William Makepeace Thackeray
Image generated by AI model Z-Image Turbo

Runtime: 19 hr 21 min · Watch the full audiobook on YouTube · Subscribe to Ion Books

William Makepeace Thackeray published The History of Henry Esmond in 1852 as a deliberate departure from the sentimental novels of his era. He sought to recreate the voice and spirit of the eighteenth century, crafting a narrative that reads like a discovered manuscript rather than a Victorian invention. The story unfolds through the memoirs of Colonel Henry Esmond, a man of quiet dignity serving Queen Anne amidst the political turbulence of the Hanoverian succession. This work invites readers to step into a world where personal honor often clashes with the cold mechanics of statecraft. The novel is notable for its seamless blend of fictional character and historical reality. Esmond moves through a London populated by literary giants such as Jonathan Swift and Joseph Addison, offering an intimate glimpse into the intellectual ferment of the time. Thackeray’s prose is restrained yet deeply felt, avoiding the melodrama that characterized much of contemporary fiction. Instead, he presents a nuanced portrait of a man navigating loyalty, love, and the shifting tides of power. This is a work to revisit slowly, allowing the period atmosphere to settle around you.

Summary generated by AI model Qwen 3

Public domain & narration

The History of Henry Esmond was first published in 1852. Works first published before 1931 are in the public domain in the United States, so the text is free to read, share and adapt. The edition shown here comes from Project Gutenberg, which publishes only books that are in the US public domain.

The narration is the LibriVox recording read by 14 volunteer readers, including Ralph Snelson, rachelellen and JemmaBlythe. LibriVox volunteers dedicate their recordings to the public domain.

Ion Books adds the synchronized scrolling text and video, so you can read along while you listen, for free.

Full Playlist

Watch the full playlist on YouTube

Full Videos

YouTube Short

Watch the Short (video generated by AI)

Sleep Edition

A slower-paced, warm-lit version of this audiobook on the IonNocturne channel — designed for bedtime listening, with the same scrolling text on a sleep-friendly palette.

Watch the full sleep playlist on YouTube

Sleep parts:

Sleep Short (video generated by AI)

Subscribe to IonNocturne for nightly sleep audiobooks.

Chapters

  1. Chapter 1: Preface & Introduction (13:57) · watch
  2. Chapter 2: Bk I intro & Bk I, ch 01: An Account of the Family of Esmond of Castlewood Hall (19:33) · watch
  3. Chapter 3: Bk I, ch 02: Relates how Francis, Fourth Viscount, arrives at Castlewood (22:14) · watch
  4. Chapter 4: Bk I, ch 03: Whither, in the time of Thomas, Third Viscount, I had preceded him as Page to Isabella (30:32) · watch
  5. Chapter 5: Bk I, ch 04: I am placed under a Popish Priest and bred to that Religion . . .Vicountess Castlewood (15:48) · watch
  6. Chapter 6: Bk I, ch 05: My Superiors are engaged in Plots for the Restoration of King James II (25:31) · watch
  7. Chapter 7: Bk I, ch 06: The Issue of the Plots.--The Death of Thomas, Third Viscount of Castlewood; and the Imprisonment of his Viscountess (32:34) · watch
  8. Chapter 8: Bk I, ch 07: I am left at Castlewood an Orphan, and find most kind Protectors there (20:59) · watch
  9. Chapter 9: Bk I, ch 08: After Good Fortune comes Evil (21:49) · watch
  10. Chapter 10: Bk I, ch 09: I have the Small-pox, and prepare to leave Castlewood (58:11) · watch
  11. Chapter 11: Bk I, ch 10: I go to Cambridge, and do but little Good there (18:07) · watch
  12. Chapter 12: Bk I, ch 11: I come home for a Holiday to Castlewood, and find a Skeleton in the House (31:47) · watch
  13. Chapter 13: Bk I, ch 12: My Lord Mohun comes among us for no Good (23:49) · watch
  14. Chapter 14: Bk I, ch 13: My Lord leaves us and his Evil behind him (31:08) · watch
  15. Chapter 15: Bk I, ch 14: We ride after him to London (36:27) · watch
  16. Chapter 16: Bk II, ch 01: I am in Prison, and Visited, but not Consoled there (24:16) · watch
  17. Chapter 17: Bk II, ch 02: I come to the End of my Captivity, but not of my Trouble (22:58) · watch
  18. Chapter 18: Bk II, ch 03: I take the Queen's Pay in Quin's Regiment (24:01)
  19. Chapter 19: Bk II, ch 04: Recapitulations (15:36)
  20. Chapter 20: Bk II, ch 05: I go on the Vigo Bay Expedition, taste Salt Water and smell Powder (27:36)
  21. Chapter 21: Bk II, ch 06: The 29th December (17:04)
  22. Chapter 22: Bk II, ch 07: I am made Welcome at Walcote (24:13)
  23. Chapter 23: Bk II, ch 08: Family Talk (16:33)
  24. Chapter 24: Bk II, ch 09: I make the Campaign of 1704 (25:36)
  25. Chapter 25: Bk II, ch 10: An Old Story about a Fool and a Woman (22:58)
  26. Chapter 26: Bk II, ch 11: The famous Mr. Joseph Addison (25:09)
  27. Chapter 27: Bk II, ch 12: I get a Company in the Campaign of 1706 (12:10)
  28. Chapter 28: Bk II, ch 13: I meet an Old Acquaintance in Flanders, and find my Mother's Grave, and my own Cradle there (29:22)
  29. Chapter 29: Bk II, ch 14: The Campaign of 1707, 1708 (19:01)
  30. Chapter 30: Bk II, ch 15: General Webb wins the Battle of Wynendael (1:02:05)
  31. Chapter 31: Bk III, ch 01: I come to an End of my Battles and Bruises (35:05)
  32. Chapter 32: Bk III, ch 02: I go Home, and harp on the Old String (36:50)
  33. Chapter 33: Bk III, ch 03: A Paper out of the "Spectator" (52:48)
  34. Chapter 34: Bk III, ch 04: Beatrix's New Suitor (26:51)
  35. Chapter 35: Bk III, ch 05: Mohun appears for the Last Time in this History (40:36)
  36. Chapter 36: Bk III, ch 06: Poor Beatrix (12:15)
  37. Chapter 37: Bk III, ch 07: I visit Castlewood once more (24:30)
  38. Chapter 38: Bk III, ch 08: I travel to France and bring Home a Portrait of Rigaud (25:14)
  39. Chapter 39: Bk III, ch 09: The Original of the Portrait comes to England (34:44)
  40. Chapter 40: Bk III, ch 10: We entertain a very Distinguished Guest at Kensington (32:42)
  41. Chapter 41: Bk III, ch 11: Our Guest quits us as not being Hospitable enough (22:14)
  42. Chapter 42: Bk III, ch 12: A great Scheme, and who Balked it (12:54)
  43. Chapter 43: August 1, 1714 (33:30)

Full text

This work is too long to show on one page. Read it on Project Gutenberg · download ebook.txt

Sources

Raw pipeline data (admin)