About
William Makepeace Thackeray, born in Calcutta in 1811, was a major British novelist of the Victorian era. After studies at Charterhouse and Cambridge, he turned to journalism and illustration. His novel Vanity Fair (1847-1848) brought him fame and remains his most famous work. He also wrote Barry Lyndon, Pendennis, Henry Esmond, and The Newcomes. Thackeray popularized the term 'snob' with The Book of Snobs. He founded and edited the Cornhill Magazine. He died in London in 1863.
* 1811-07-18 — † 1863-12-24
Major works
- Vanity Fair (1847-1848)novel
- The Luck of Barry Lyndon (1844)novel
- Pendennis (1848-1850)novel
- The History of Henry Esmond (1852)novel
- The Newcomes (1853-1855)novel
Key milestones
- 1847Publication of Vanity Fair, which brought him fame.
- 1860Founded and became the first editor of the Cornhill Magazine.
- 1863Died in London; a commemorative bust was placed in Westminster Abbey.
Themes
Social satireHypocrisyAmbitionSocial classMarriage and money
Sources: britannica.com · oxfordbibliographies.com
