Helpful Score: 4
Vanitas Vanitatum! Which of us is happy in this world?
I enjoyed this book, but it had to grow on me after 200 + pages. At first, the language seems archaic, stilted, and difficult to follow. The style of writing is totally vain and self-serving, the sort of celebrity of times past. The story takes place in London from 1809 until about 1830, but really in Europe. The story itself revolves around two families: Amelia Sedley, and Rebecca Sharp. Childhood friends from finishing schools with much different backgrounds. Amelia's from a respectable family, with a secure future. Rebecca has no pedigree, which is all-important. She survives by her wits, perpetually climbing the society ladder. At one time, she is the toast of London, and invited to Court. Rebecca is one of the most resourceful and interesting characters in English literature. At a time when respectable women could not work, Rebecca sets about making a name for herself and marrying into a wealthier respectable family, the Crawleys.
One truth of Vanity Fair: a place and a state of mind is this: fortunes change. The book follows the ups and downs of Amelia and Rebecca. Amelia and Rebecca's husbands, George Osborne and Rawdon Crawley serve in the British military at Waterloo. George Osborne never returns, and years later it is found out that he never loved his wife Amelia, but wanted Rebecca to run away with him. Eventually Rebecca has a son, whom she does not care for, and is left to the care of her in-laws. At last, she is shunned by society and ends up alone.
Although the wordy, descriptive style can be overbearing, the story is worth reading. It is thought that Thackeray himself is based on the character of Major Dobbins, who loves Amelia for years from afar. The story constantly holds up a mirror to society, the highs, the lows, debt and bankruptcy, love and marriage.
I enjoyed this book, but it had to grow on me after 200 + pages. At first, the language seems archaic, stilted, and difficult to follow. The style of writing is totally vain and self-serving, the sort of celebrity of times past. The story takes place in London from 1809 until about 1830, but really in Europe. The story itself revolves around two families: Amelia Sedley, and Rebecca Sharp. Childhood friends from finishing schools with much different backgrounds. Amelia's from a respectable family, with a secure future. Rebecca has no pedigree, which is all-important. She survives by her wits, perpetually climbing the society ladder. At one time, she is the toast of London, and invited to Court. Rebecca is one of the most resourceful and interesting characters in English literature. At a time when respectable women could not work, Rebecca sets about making a name for herself and marrying into a wealthier respectable family, the Crawleys.
One truth of Vanity Fair: a place and a state of mind is this: fortunes change. The book follows the ups and downs of Amelia and Rebecca. Amelia and Rebecca's husbands, George Osborne and Rawdon Crawley serve in the British military at Waterloo. George Osborne never returns, and years later it is found out that he never loved his wife Amelia, but wanted Rebecca to run away with him. Eventually Rebecca has a son, whom she does not care for, and is left to the care of her in-laws. At last, she is shunned by society and ends up alone.
Although the wordy, descriptive style can be overbearing, the story is worth reading. It is thought that Thackeray himself is based on the character of Major Dobbins, who loves Amelia for years from afar. The story constantly holds up a mirror to society, the highs, the lows, debt and bankruptcy, love and marriage.
I simply have not been able to get through this book. It's quite a clever send up of the social behaviors of the day, which also reflects upon our own. But i tired of the ongoing character sketches even when I enjoyed them a great deal at the beginning. It just never seems to end.
I set it aside. I think I am curious enough to find out what happens with Becky Sharp. Will she get her comeuppence? Maybe this summer I'll find out.
I set it aside. I think I am curious enough to find out what happens with Becky Sharp. Will she get her comeuppence? Maybe this summer I'll find out.
At first I liked it. Even Ms. Sharp. But I started to....I wanted smash her face in! And Poor Ms. Sedley?!? Get over it girl! And George. Well, when I ended it, I was glad he got what he did. I normally stick in there and hold through to the end. Hey, I finished Moby Dick and I was bored to tears with that one. I just have chosen that there are other books I'd rather read then spend time with this book! It just was not for me.
Interesting view of the times and the people then. I didn't really care for Thackeray's writing style, way too wordy, but that was the way good writing was back then.
As the coach pulls out of Miss Pinkerton's academy carrying two young ladies, one leans out the window and flings her parting gift back into the garden of the school. This defiant act introduces, dear reader, Miss Becky Sharp.
Becky Sharp is one of the unforgettable characters of English fiction, the model adventuress. Witty, clever, and accomplished, she is also poor, having been orphaned in her teens and left to scheme her way in the world. In Vanity Fair, a title taken from John Bunyan, we follow her singleminded progress against the backdrop of Napoleonic England. The canvas is broad, with its picture of Waterloo as a social event, allusions to colonial India, and thorough passage through English society.
Over all this Thackeray the imniscient novelist presides, manipulating his characters to display the vanity of society - "not a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, though very noisy." This is the drama Thackeray unfolds, with a heroine whose vitality and vividness inform every scene.
Becky Sharp is one of the unforgettable characters of English fiction, the model adventuress. Witty, clever, and accomplished, she is also poor, having been orphaned in her teens and left to scheme her way in the world. In Vanity Fair, a title taken from John Bunyan, we follow her singleminded progress against the backdrop of Napoleonic England. The canvas is broad, with its picture of Waterloo as a social event, allusions to colonial India, and thorough passage through English society.
Over all this Thackeray the imniscient novelist presides, manipulating his characters to display the vanity of society - "not a moral place certainly; nor a merry one, though very noisy." This is the drama Thackeray unfolds, with a heroine whose vitality and vividness inform every scene.
So much better than the movie.
This was a book group selection that I just never could bring myself to read. Some people just loved it though....
First published in 1848, this edition somewhat later.
Read for class. Only made it through about 400 pages, which, okay, isn't the entire book. It was funny in the beginning, but wore thin.
