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The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon Esquire Written by Himself and Catherine a Story
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
436 pages, Hardcover
Published July 25, 2007
About the author
William Makepeace Thackeray
4,619 books1,367 followersWilliam 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 21, 2020
Thackeray's "memoir" of Barry Lyndon is quite the character study. My initial thought was "What an a**hole!" Having said that, it was actually rather refreshing to have a roguish, delusional, ego-maniacal swindler as a main character. Very interested now in watching the Kubrick film version.
December 8, 2012
First read Vanity Fair then read Barry Lyndon. These are some of the greatest works in the English language, but there is only one flaw. You kind of have to be an addict or a gambler to fully appreciate them. Apparantly, Thackeray had a little problem with the cards and roulette wheels and that theme is now all to apparent to me. Having said that, Barry Lyndon is the best ever biography of a narcissist and traces the roots of the narcissism so expertly that I daresay every psychologist MUST read this book. I'm kind of a narcissist so this book helped me. Yet, I don't want to stop being a narcissist, mainly because of this book. Also, dealing with money is a big theme with Thack, so it's worth reading to see why one shouldn't borrow nor flaunt it! The ending is so tragic and so poignant, that I was emotionally scarred. Yet I loved the devious hero of this book. I learned about Prussia and England more. I learned about being a soldier of fortune. There was literary suprise in this one, and I don't every wish to be a spoiler so I will just say that "the suprises worked" in this volume. Long live Thackeray, the great novelist and one of the finest ever. He has a tremendous range and scope of realistic characters. He must have been great to have a beer with!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews