Vanity Fair

«Vanity Fair» — the pinnacle of William Thackeray's creativity. The future talented writer was born in 1811. His talent for satire awoke early. During his student years in Cambridge, he published the magazine «Snob». At that time, this term was used to refer to apprentice shoemakers, but it also served as a nickname for ignorant, self-important petty bourgeois. With Thackeray's light touch, the term «snobbery» gained widespread usage. In his famous novel, he mercilessly mocked the vanity of the burgeoning bourgeoisie.
Upon reaching adulthood, Thackeray inherited some money and tried to finance the publication of a couple of newspapers, but he failed miserably and nearly went bankrupt. He had to turn to journalism, which was on the rise in England at the time. As a result, Thackeray became acquainted with various aspects of English society, where the rising capitalism clashed with patriarchal moral values. Thackeray wrote numerous essays and articles that formed a unique foundation for the novel. During this period, while publishing caricature sketches of the English high society in the satirical magazine «Punch», he earned a reputation as a scathing satirist. Ironic laughter was his element, in which he felt completely free.
Interestingly, Thackeray illustrated his own articles and essays. Even in his youth, he dreamed of becoming an artist and even studied drawing in Paris. He did not become a major painter, instead finding his calling as a caricaturist. Thackeray the artist depicts his characters in a caricatured manner, which gives «Vanity Fair» a special charm. This novel brought the writer wide recognition. It was published from 1847 to 1848 in monthly installments and then released in 1848 as a three-volume work. When reading the title of the novel, the enlightened English public recalled the popular allegorical work of the 17th century by John Bunyan, «The Pilgrim's Progress», in which London was depicted as a fair of life's vanity where everything was for sale — from jewels and houses to positions and human souls. After the success of «Vanity Fair», Thackeray wrote several more novels, lectured in Europe and America, and died in 1863 from a stroke.
In terms of realism, Thackeray is similar to Dickens. His «Fair» is a satire on eternal human vices. The main character of the novel is a poor girl, Becky Sharp, who is determined to secure a comfortable life at all costs. Such a type can often be found in the modern world. For the first time in Russian, «Vanity Fair» was published in 1850. This edition features a beautiful translation by V. I. Stein.
«Vanity Fair» — the pinnacle of the creativity of the English writer William Thackeray. Working as a journalist, he wrote many satirical essays and articles by the mid-19th century, which became a unique material for the novel. Thackeray illustrated his works himself, depicting his characters in a caricatured way, which adds a special charm to his «Fair». This novel is a satire on eternal human vices. It was first published in England in 1848 and has been reprinted numerous times. This edition features a beautiful translation by V. I. Stein.