About the book
The quintessential satire of life in early nineteenth-century Britain Vanity Fair is a panoramic tour of English social strata charting the rise and fall of the opportunistic Becky Sharp. Rejected by several publishers before finding a place with Bradbury and Evans this novel without a hero first appeared as a popular serial. The twenty parts were finally printed together in 1848 incorporating the author s own illustrations. Although William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-63) was not a debut author this was the first of his works to bear his name on the title page the vast scope of the novel gained him immediate critical acclaim though reviewers often expressed misgivings about the dark portrayal of human nature. In response Thackeray wrote that we are for the most part an abominably foolish and selfish people ...I want to leave everybody dissatisfied and unhappy at the end of the story.
Editions of Vanity Fair
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9781108060530
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781108057059
Read an Excerpt
The quintessential satire of life in early nineteenth-century Britain Vanity Fair is a panoramic tour of English social strata charting the rise and fall of the opportunistic Becky Sharp. Rejected by several publishers before finding a place with Bradbury and Evans this novel without a hero first appeared as a popular serial. The twenty parts were finally printed together in 1848 incorporating the author s own illustrations. Although William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-63) was not a debut author this was the first of his works to bear his name on the title page the vast scope of the novel gained him immediate critical acclaim though reviewers often expressed misgivings about the dark portrayal of human nature. In response Thackeray wrote that we are for the most part an abominably foolish and selfish people ...I want to leave everybody dissatisfied and unhappy at the end of the story.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Vanity Fair about?
The quintessential satire of life in early nineteenth-century Britain Vanity Fair is a panoramic tour of English social strata charting the rise and fall of the opportunistic Becky Sharp. Rejected by several publishers before finding a place with Bradbury and Evans this novel without a hero first appeared as a popular serial. The twenty parts were finally printed together in 1848 incorporating the author s own illustrations. Although William Makepeace Thackeray (1811-63) was not a debut author this was the first of his works to bear his name on the title page the vast scope of the novel gained him immediate critical acclaim though reviewers often expressed misgivings about the dark portrayal of human nature. In response Thackeray wrote that we are for the most part an abominably foolish and selfish people ...I want to leave everybody dissatisfied and unhappy at the end of the story.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Vanity Fair?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism > Literary studies: general > Literary studies: c 1800 to c 1900
Where can I read a sample of Vanity Fair?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9781108060530
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Vanity Fair?
William Makepeace Thackeray
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Vanity Fair is available as hardcover(ISBN 9781108060530) and paperback(ISBN 9781108057059)