Vanity Fair

Vanity Fair is the pinnacle of William Thackeray's work. The future talented writer was born in 1811. In him woke up early talent satirist. Already in his student years, in Cambridge, he published the magazine "Snob". At that time, so called apprentice shoemakers, and at the same time this word was a nickname for ignorant self-loving burghers. With the light hand of Thackeray the term "snobbery" became widespread. In his famous novel, he gloriously mocked the vanity of the bourgeoisie gained strength. Having reached adulthood, Thackeray received an inheritance, tried to finance the publication of a couple of newspapers, but failed and almost ruined. Had to engage in journalism, which at that time in England was on the rise. As a result, Thackeray became acquainted with various aspects of English society, in which capitalism gained strength faced patriarchal moral principles. Thackeray wrote many essays and articles, which became a kind of material for the novel. At this time, the writer, printing in the satirical magazine "Punch" a kind of caricature sketches of the English high society, earned himself a reputation as a poisonous mocker. Ironic laughter was his element, in which he felt completely free. Curiously, Thackeray himself illustrated his articles and essays. Even in his youth, he dreamed of becoming an artist and even studied drawing in Paris. He did not become a great painter, finding his calling as a cartoonist. Thackeray-artist depicts his characters in a caricatured form, which gives "Vanity Fair" a special charm. This novel brought the writer wide fame. It was published in 1847-1848 as monthly issues, and then was published in 1848 as a three-volume set. Reading the title of the novel, the enlightened English public recalled the popular allegorical work of the XVII century. John Benjamin "The Way of the Pilgrim", which depicted London as a fair of worldly bustle, where everything is for sale - from jewelry and houses, to ranks and human souls. After the success of "The Fair" Thackeray wrote several more novels, lectured in Europe and America and died in 1863 from a stroke. Thackeray is similar to Dickens in his realistic techniques. His "The Fair" - a satire on the eternal human vices. The protagonist of the novel - a poor girl Becky Sharp, who decided by all means to comfortably settle in life. This type is often found in the modern world. The Fair was first published in Russian in 1850. In this edition, the text is given in a beautiful translation by V. I. Shtein. "Vanity Fair" - the pinnacle of creativity of the English writer William Thackeray. Working as a journalist, he wrote by the middle of the XIX century. a lot of satirical essays and articles, which became a kind of material for the novel. Thackeray himself illustrated his works, depicting their characters in cartoon form, which gives his "Fair" a special charm. This novel is a satire on the eternal human vices. It was first published in England in 1848, and has been reprinted many times since. In this edition, the text is beautifully translated by V. I. Shtein.