Rookwood is a Gothic romance set in 1737 England, centered on a deadly dispute over the Rookwood family inheritance. After the manor's owner dies, hidden heirs, dark prophecies, and long-buried secrets emerge. Rival claimants, forbidden love, and acts of betrayal draw in the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin. William Harrison Ainsworth blends history, superstition, and suspense in a tale of ambition, revenge, and a cursed family legacy.