Vanity Fair

by William Makepeace Thackeray

Literary Studies, Classic Literature, Fiction, Literary Studies, Fiction Novel

Mass Market Paperback

Published January 1, 1962

About the author

William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist, satirist, and journalist, best known for his keen social commentary and his novel Vanity Fair (1847–1848). His works often explored themes of ambition, hypocrisy, and the moral failings of British society, making him one of the most significant literary figures of the Victorian era.
Born in Calcutta, British India, he was sent to England for his education after his father’s death. He attended Charterhouse School, where he developed a distaste for the rigid school system, and later enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge. However, he left without earning a degree, instead traveling in Europe and pursuing artistic ambitions.
After losing much of his inheritance due to bad investments, Thackeray turned to writing for a living. He contributed satirical sketches, essays, and stories to periodicals such as Fraser’s Magazine and Punch, gradually building a reputation for his sharp wit and keen observational skills. His breakthrough came with Vanity Fair, a panoramic satire of English society that introduced the enduring character of Becky Sharp, a resourceful and amoral social climber.
Thackeray’s later novels, including Pendennis (1848–1850), The History of Henry Esmond (1852), and The Newcomes (1853–1855), continued to explore the lives of the English upper and middle classes, often focusing on the contrast between personal virtue and social ambition. His historical novel Henry Esmond was particularly praised for its detailed 18th-century setting and complex characterization.
In addition to his fiction, Thackeray was a noted public speaker and essayist, delivering lectures on the English humorists of the 18th century and on The Four Georges, a critical look at the British monarchy.
Despite his literary success, he lived with personal struggles, including the mental illness of his wife, Isabella, which deeply affected him. He remained devoted to his two daughters and was known for his kindness and generosity among his friends and colleagues.
His works remain widely read, appreciated for their incisive humor, rich characterizations, and unflinching critique of social pretensions.

Reviews

[Ryota · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's like a synopsis. Photographs from a motion picture are good.

[HonokaAndo · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.level 3
2. June 23:40min June 24:60min June 25: 20min
3.two girls,Becky, marry, France, Napoleon, war,money
4(a Becky has no family. Her parents died when she was seventeen years old. So after she graduated school, She tried to join in rich people's world. The other side, the society was changing to Napoleon war...
b) I wondered at Becky's behavior. She often try to be rich. So she try to facinate rich men. Even Amelia'S brother!! Amelia is best friend for Becky. But she had an affair with Amelia's husband. How could she??!! She was so flirtatious woman.

5. I shoud to see Sophie's comment at first.lol
This book was difficult to understand. So characters appeared in this book. So I confused all the time. So it takes a long time to read. I wanted to give up reading,but I tried hard.

[Rina Suzuki]

Vanity Fair
William Thackery
Penguin readers
150min
Ladies, men, success, no heroin, Europe, love, humorous
Level-3

Questions
1. Which one do you like better Becky or Amelia?

I like Becky because she is not rich but she is very intelligent with no family and money. But she has an ambition. In this story she tries to take action very aggressively. Some men fell in love her because she pretended the men's ideal woman.

2. What do you think is it difficult to be a governess?

Yea, I think to be a governed is very difficult for women at that time. So I figure out that two women Becky and Amelia have talent. Especially Becky is intelligent lady. Many accidents happen, but those were interesting.

[Shiho Kawai · Rating 2 out of 5]

-Penguin readers, level 3
-Time: 90 minutes
-7 word summary: London, Paris, debt, marry, army, governess, and letter
-Discussion Questions:
1. If you live in foreign country, which do you want to live, UK or France?
I want to eat local French food, but I want to live in UK better than France because I have a chance to speak English.
2. Do you want to be a governess?
I don't want to be it, because I may have a stress to teach for students. However my part-time job is at a cram school now. haha

[Hila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Maybe I should read the long version, but the short version was defiantly off, I didn't relate to the characters it was hard to follow who is who, who is the main character and who is married to who, I didn't find myself there, I didn't feel like I'm in the book, like usually happened.
I read books from 1800th, but this was one of the worst.