William Harrison Ainsworth was a 19th century English historian and author. Ainsworth studied law and worked briefly in publishing but eventually worked in journalism and literature. His first success as a writer came with Rookwood in 1834, which features Dick Turpin as its leading character. Ainsworth wrote 39 more novels, the last appearing in 1881. Windsor Castle is an historical romance set during the time of Henry VIII, Catherine of Aragon, and Anne Boleyn.