William Makepeace Thackeray has always been an author for those with discriminating literary palettes. `I do not hesitate to name Thackeray first' said his most devoted disciple, Anthony Trollope. Few would deny that he is the finest literary stylist of his time. Thackeray was at his most Thackerayan in what he called `small beer chronicles': the little things in life. His style reached its highest pitch in essays, his cutting wit in journalism. This is the first `sampler' which covers all of Thackeray's versatile genius: his cartoons, his journalism, his carefully restrained sentimentality (much to Victorian taste), his cutting satire, his essayism and what one could grandly call the Thackerayan world view---summed up (as printed here) in the foreword and afterword of his masterpiece, Vanity Fair. This collection of incidental pieces and cartoons (no writer has ever illustrated his own work better) catches him at his most characteristic. Enjoy. Key Points: * The first anthology of Thackeray's varied writings as journalist and essayist * With explanatory notes throughout by scholar and writer John Sutherland * Illustrated with sketches and cartoons by Thackeray * A charming gift for fans of Thackeray and Victoriana

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.'

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.'

The "Four Corners Familiars" series invites contemporary artists to illustrate and produce a new edition of a classic novel or short story. This magnificent edition of William Makepeace Thackeray's "Vanity Fair" (first published in 1847-48) is the sixth in this series, and is produced by the British artist Donald Urquhart. Urquhart's black-and-white drawing style and subject matter is perfectly suited to the themes of "Vanity Fair," which follows the fortunes of its strong-minded and strong-willed anti-heroine Becky Sharp through the follies and hypocrisies of early nineteenth-century British society. Urquhart's drawings, inspired by the fashions and iconography of 1930s Hollywood, focus exclusively on Becky Sharp. "I wanted to sideline all the secondary characters," says Urquhart. The novel is newly typeset in Perpetua and Felicity (partly chosen for their feminine names), typefaces designed by Eric Gill.

With an Introduction and Notes by Owen Knowles, University of Hull. Thackeray's upper-class Regency world is a noisy and jostling commercial fairground, predominantly driven by acquisitive greed and soulless materialism, in which the narrator himself plays a brilliantly versatile role as a serio-comic observer. Although subtitled A Novel without a Hero, Vanity Fair follows the fortunes of two contrasting but inter-linked lives: through the retiring Amelia Sedley and the brilliant Becky Sharp, Thackeray examines the position of women in an intensely exploitative male world. When Vanity Fair was published in 1848, Charlotte Bronte commented: 'The more I read Thackeray'sworks the more certain I am that he stands alone - alone in his sagacity, alone in his truth, alone in his feeling... Thackeray is a Titan.'

A masterpiece of social satire, featuring one of literature's best-loved characters, Becky Sharp. Ruthless social climber and irrepressible anti-hero Becky Sharp will do anything to raise her position in Society, from impoverished orphan to woman of means. Clever, lively and resourceful, Becky is the total opposite of her naive and sentimental schoolmate Amelia Sedley, a pampered yet good-natured girl from a wealthy family. As both women pursue love and life in London, against the background of the Napoleonic Wars, Thackeray paints a vivid portrait of decadent Regency England and satirises its corruption and flaws to delightful effect.

Introduction by Catherine Peters

A major TV series starring Olivia Cooke, Simon Russell Beale and Micheal Palin. Brilliant anti-heroine Becky Sharp will do anything to climb to society's loftiest heights and couldn't be more different from her rich, sweet-natured schoolmate, Amelia Sedley. Their parallel lives are marked by love, lust, marriage, fortune and loss, in all their different guises, as they navigate the corrupt circus of upper-class Regency England. Hailed as a literary masterpiece upon first publication, William Makepeace Thackeray's Vanity Fair has never waned in popularity and remains a highly entertaining satire of early nineteenth-century high society. This gorgeous edition includes an afterword by the prizewinning author and critic, Henry Hitchings. Designed to appeal to the booklover, the Macmillan Collector's Library is a series of beautiful gift editions of much loved classic titles. Macmillan Collector's Library are books to love and treasure.

'I think I could be a good woman if I had five thousand a year.' Becky Sharp is sharp, calculating, and determined to succeed. Craving wealth and a position in society, she charms, hoodwinks, manipulates everyone she meets, rising in the world as she attaches herself to a succession of rich men. Becky's fortunes are contrasted with those of her best friend Amelia, who has none of Becky's wit and vitality but whose gentle-heartedness attracts the devotion of the loyal Dobbin. Set during the Napoleonic wars, Vanity Fair follows Becky as she cuts a swathe through Regency society. Thackeray paints a panoramic portrait of the age, with war, money and national identity his great subjects. The battle for social success is as fierce as the battle of Waterloo, and its casualties as stricken. The satire is at once biting and profound, sparing none in a clear-eyed exposure of a world on the make. Thackeray's scepticism of human motives borders on cynicism yet Vanity Fair is among the funniest novels of the Victorian age. This new edition includes all Thackeray's original illustrations. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

This is a reproduction of a book published before 1923. This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ++++ The below data was compiled from various identification fields in the bibliographic record of this title. This data is provided as an additional tool in helping to ensure edition identification: ++++ Vanity Fair: A Novel Without A Hero. To Which Is Added Doctor Birch, And His Young Friends, Volume 1; Vanity Fair: A Novel Without A Hero. To Which Is Added Doctor Birch, And His Young Friends; William Makepeace Thackeray William Makepeace Thackeray Baudry; Galignani, 1849

In Victorian era England, longtime friends Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley experience love and loss alongside the many colorful members of their unique social circle. Despite the ups and downs, they attempt to maintain their dignity and connection. Becky Sharp is a bold spitfire who's driven by ambition and eager to solidify her station in life. Her childhood friend, Amelia Sedley, is a modest and passive woman, who is mostly viewed as warm and endearing. Their glaring personalities are on full display as they encounter various male suitors including Rawdon Crawley and George Osborne. Becky's flirtatious and manipulative manner makes her a topic of conversation, while Amelia's loyalty proves to be a cross too heavy to bear. Vanity Fair is one of William Makepeace Thackeray's most famous novels. It has been adapted multiple times for television and film, including a 2004 feature starring Oscar-winner Reese Witherspoon as the feisty Becky. She is often considered Thackeray's most memorable character. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Vanity Fair is both modern and readable.

Men's Wives (1852) is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray. Divided into three sections-"The Ravenswing"; "Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berry"; and "Dennis Haggarty's Wife"-Men's Wives satirizes the married lives of England's elite. In "Ravenswing," a novella, Captain Walker meets a beautiful young woman named Morgiana Crump. The daughter of an eccentric hotelier and a retired actress, Miss Crump is being prepared for marriage by her overeager parents. Struggling to compete with the countless suitors constantly crowding Miss Crump, Walker, an officer and a gentlemen, grows progressively disheartened. "Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berry" is a two-part story following one man from youth to adulthood. A fighter in his schoolboy days, Mr. Frank Berry is now a married man. When a chance encounter in Versailles reunites him with some old friends, however, his wife begins to fear that her husband is not yet ready to settle down. "Dennis Haggarty's Wife" is a short story tracing the journey from repulsion to marriage between a snobbish protestant Irishwoman and the Irishman she marries despite his Catholic heritage. Throughout Men's Wives, a humorous collection of stories on marriages mostly disastrous, Thackeray effectively satirizes the lives and loves of his nation's elite. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Makepeace Thackeray's Men's Wives is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

When Fairy Blackstick created a magical rose and ring, she did not anticipate their existence to be so troublesome. With the power to warp perception, the rose and the ring each make their bearer seem beautiful and irresistibly charming. However, as they are passed down, the magic of the items had been forgotten, leaving their new owners clueless of this ability. The ring resides in the Paflagonia kingdom. Giglio, the King's nephew, is the rightful heir to the throne, but the opportunity was stolen from him as a baby. However, he owns the ring, which had been passed down from his mother. Since Giglio does not wear the ring, he is often overlooked in the family, overshadowed by Princess Angelica. The rose resides in the Crim Tartary kingdom. Separated for years, the two magical objects reunite when Prince Bulbo of the Crim Tartary kingdom visits Paflagonia, carrying his rose with him. When Angelica immediately falls in love with the prince, this angers Giglio, who had held feelings for Angelica for a long time. After a passionate confrontation between Angelica and Giglio, the enchanted ring is thrown out into the garden, free for anyone to find. As the ring finds a new owner, complicated love triangles emerge, inciting fights, threats, and social turmoil. Written like a fairytale, The Rose and the Ring by William Makepeace Thackery features magic and dueling kingdoms, capturing the imagination of its audience. Meant to be a satirical work of romantic comedy, The Rose and the Ring criticizes the attitudes of monarchs and high society, specifically challenging their ideals of beauty and marriage. With the combination of clever satire, imaginative prose, and an exciting narrative, this novel is both entertaining and thought-provoking. Originally published in 1855, The Rose and the Ring is a whimsical tale supporting a meaningful message that still remains relevant to modern day society. This edition of The Rose and the Ring by William Makepeace Thackery features a striking new cover design and is printed in a font that is both modern and readable. With these accommodations, The Rose and the Ring caters to a contemporary audience while preserving the original hilarity of Thackery's work.

Eager to leave his humble beginnings, Redmond Barry, runs multiple scams, conning his way into the military and pursuing the fortune of a young widow.For every momentous achievement, he's riddled with a bittersweet result. Redmond Barry is born into a poor Irish family and desires to become a man of status and means. Although ambitious, he's naturally mischievous and has no interest in doing things the right way. After falling into debt, he joins the military but quickly discovers his disdain for public service. He goes AWOL and attempts to earn a living by cheating people on the streets. He gambles and lies his way from one situation to the next. It's not until a major tragedy that Redmond Barry, now known as Barry Lyndon, is forced to confront his reality. Barry Lyndon is a character-driven portrait of a man on a path to self-destruction. William Makepeace Thackeray explores the dangers of debauchery, greed and overt self-preservation. Alongside Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon is one of the author's best-known works. It was famously adapted for film in 1975 by director Stanley Kubrick. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Barry Lyndon is both modern and readable.