| Author |
Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863 |
| Title |
Vanity Fair
|
| Note |
Reading ease score: 75.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
|
| Credits |
Produced by Juli Rew.
|
| Summary |
"Vanity Fair" by William Makepeace Thackeray is a novel written during the mid-19th century. The story explores the intricate and often morally ambiguous social landscape of 19th-century Britain, particularly through the lives of its characters, focusing on the experiences of two young women, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley. As the narrative unfolds, it delves into themes of ambition, social climbing, and the deceptive nature of appearances within the context of a society driven by vanity. At the start of "Vanity Fair," we are introduced to the bustling, chaotic environment of the Fair, contrasting its noisy gaiety with an underlying sense of melancholy. Readers meet the schoolmistress Miss Pinkerton and her pupils, particularly the gentle Amelia Sedley and the cunning Becky Sharp. The opening scenes set the stage for a rivalry between the two young women as they transition from the confining world of the academy to the bustling world beyond. Thackeray's sharp wit and social commentary emerge as we witness Becky’s disdain for her upbringing and her determination to rise by any means necessary, contrasted with Amelia's sweet, naive disposition. This initial setup lays the groundwork for the unfolding tales of ambition, love, and the pursuit of status that will define the characters' lives throughout the novel. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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| Language |
English |
| LoC Class |
PR: Language and Literatures: English literature
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| Subject |
Satire
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| Subject |
England -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Married women -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Female friendship -- Fiction
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| Subject |
Social classes -- Fiction
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| Subject |
British -- Europe -- Fiction
|
| Subject |
Waterloo, Battle of, Waterloo, Belgium, 1815 -- Fiction
|
| Category |
Text |
| EBook-No. |
599 |
| Release Date |
Jul 1, 1996 |
| Most Recently Updated |
Mar 19, 2024 |
| Copyright Status |
Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads |
3194 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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