# The History of Henry Esmond — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for The History of Henry Esmond by William Makepeace Thackeray.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/dedication.md): Thackeray dedicates his book to the Right Honorable William Bingham, Lord Ashburton, acknowledging their friendship and explaining that the volume will reach him while the author is traveling to America.
- [The History of Henry Esmond](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/the-history-of-henry-esmond.md): The opening chapter introduces Henry Esmond's early life as an orphan, his arrival at Castlewood, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his parentage and the death of Thomas, the third Viscount. It establishes the
- [Book I: The Early Youth of Henry Esmond, Up to the Time of His Leaving Trinity College, in Cambridge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/book-i-the-early-youth-of-henry-esmond-up-to-the-time-of-his-leaving-trinity-college-in-cambridge.md): The narrator reflects on the nature of history and its tendency to focus on kings and courtly affairs, contrasting it with the more familiar, human realities of life. He introduces the Esmond family's loyalist history, d
- [An Account of the Family of Esmond of Castlewood Hall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/i-an-account-of-the-family-of-esmond-of-castlewood-hall.md): In 1691, the new Lord and Lady Castlewood arrive at Castlewood Hall. Lady Castlewood discovers a lonely twelve-year-old boy, Henry Esmond, in the book-room. She shows him kindness, and he is welcomed by the family, inclu
- [II: Relates How Francis, Fourth Viscount, Arrives at Castlewood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ii-relates-how-francis-fourth-viscount-arrives-at-castlewood.md): This chapter details the lineage and inheritance of the Castlewood title, focusing on the rivalry between Thomas Esmond and his cousin Frank Esmond. Thomas, a dissolute and impoverished younger son, converts to Catholici

> 43 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=the_history_of_henry_esmond_se_902kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Whither in the Time of Thomas, Third Viscount, I Had Preceded Him as Page to Isabella](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iii-whither-in-the-time-of-thomas-third-viscount-i-had-preceded-him-as-page-to-isabella.md)
- [IV: I Am Placed Under a Popish Priest and Bred to That Religion—Viscountess Castlewood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iv-i-am-placed-under-a-popish-priest-and-bred-to-that-religion-viscountess-castlewood.md)
- [My Superiors Are Engaged in Plots for the Restoration of King James II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-my-superiors-are-engaged-in-plots-for-the-restoration-of-king-james-ii.md)
- [The Issue of the Plots—The Death of Thomas, Third Viscount of Castlewood; and the Imprisonment of His Viscountess](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vi-the-issue-of-the-plots-the-death-of-thomas-third-viscount-of-castlewood-and-the-imprisonment-of-his-viscountess.md)
- [I Am Left at Castlewood an Orphan, and Find Most Kind Protectors There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vii-i-am-left-at-castlewood-an-orphan-and-find-most-kind-protectors-there.md)
- [VIII: After Good Fortune Comes Evil](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/viii-after-good-fortune-comes-evil.md)
- [IX: I Have the Smallpox, and Prepare to Leave Castlewood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ix-i-have-the-smallpox-and-prepare-to-leave-castlewood.md)
- [X: I Go to Cambridge, and Do but Little Good There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/x-i-go-to-cambridge-and-do-but-little-good-there.md)
- [I Come Home for a Holiday to Castlewood, and Find a Skeleton in the House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xi-i-come-home-for-a-holiday-to-castlewood-and-find-a-skeleton-in-the-house.md)
- [My Lord Mohun Comes Among Us for No Good](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xii-my-lord-mohun-comes-among-us-for-no-good.md)
- [My Lord Leaves Us and His Evil Behind Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xiii-my-lord-leaves-us-and-his-evil-behind-him.md)
- [XIV: We Ride After Him to London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xiv-we-ride-after-him-to-london.md)
- [Book II: Contains Mr. Esmond’s Military Life, and Other Matters Appertaining to the Esmond Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/book-ii-contains-mr-esmond-s-military-life-and-other-matters-appertaining-to-the-esmond-family.md)
- [I: I Am in Prison, and Visited, but Not Consoled There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/i-i-am-in-prison-and-visited-but-not-consoled-there.md)
- [II: I Come to the End of My Captivity, but Not of My Trouble](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ii-i-come-to-the-end-of-my-captivity-but-not-of-my-trouble.md)
- [III: I Take the Queen's Pay in Quin's Regiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iii-i-take-the-queen-s-pay-in-quin-s-regiment.md)
- [IV: Recapitulations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iv-recapitulations.md)
- [V: I Go on the Vigo Bay Expedition, Taste Saltwater and Smell Powder](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-i-go-on-the-vigo-bay-expedition-taste-saltwater-and-smell-powder.md)
- [VI: The 29th December](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vi-the-29th-december.md)
- [VII: I Am Made Welcome at Walcote](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vii-i-am-made-welcome-at-walcote.md)
- [VIII: Family Talk](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/viii-family-talk.md)
- [IX: I Make the Campaign of 1704](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ix-i-make-the-campaign-of-1704.md)
- [X: An Old Story About a Fool and a Woman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/x-an-old-story-about-a-fool-and-a-woman.md)
- [XI: The Famous Mr. Joseph Addison](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xi-the-famous-mr-joseph-addison.md)
- [XII: I Get a Company in the Campaign of 1706](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xii-i-get-a-company-in-the-campaign-of-1706.md)
- [I Meet an Old Acquaintance in Flanders, and Find My Mother's Grave and My Own Cradle There](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xiii-i-meet-an-old-acquaintance-in-flanders-and-find-my-mother-s-grave-and-my-own-cradle-there.md)
- [XIV: The Campaign of 1707, 1708](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xiv-the-campaign-of-1707-1708.md)
- [General Webb Wins the Battle of Wynendael](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xv-general-webb-wins-the-battle-of-wynendael.md)
- [Book III: Containing the End of Mr. Esmond’s Adventures in England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/book-iii-containing-the-end-of-mr-esmond-s-adventures-in-england.md)
- [I: I Come to an End of My Battles and Bruises](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/i-i-come-to-an-end-of-my-battles-and-bruises.md)
- [II: I Go Home, and Harp on the Old String](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ii-i-go-home-and-harp-on-the-old-string.md)
- [III: A Paper Out of the Spectator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iii-a-paper-out-of-the-spectator.md)
- [Beatrix's New Suitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/iv-beatrix-s-new-suitor.md)
- [Mohun Appears for the Last Time in This History](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/v-mohun-appears-for-the-last-time-in-this-history.md)
- [VI: Poor Beatrix](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vi-poor-beatrix.md)
- [VII: I Visit Castlewood Once More](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/vii-i-visit-castlewood-once-more.md)
- [VIII: I Travel to France and Bring Home a Portrait of Rigaud](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/viii-i-travel-to-france-and-bring-home-a-portrait-of-rigaud.md)
- [The Original of the Portrait Comes to England](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/ix-the-original-of-the-portrait-comes-to-england.md)
- [We Entertain a Very Distinguished Guest at Kensington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/x-we-entertain-a-very-distinguished-guest-at-kensington.md)
- [XI: Our Guest Quits Us as Not Being Hospitable Enough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xi-our-guest-quits-us-as-not-being-hospitable-enough.md)
- [A Great Scheme, and Who Balked It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xii-a-great-scheme-and-who-balked-it.md)
- [XIII: August 1st, 1714](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/xiii-august-1st-1714.md)
- [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters/endnotes.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_history_of_henry_esmond_se/chapters