Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray (Penguin Classics)

Vanity Fair was the first work that Thackeray published under his own name and was extremely well received at the time. After the conclusion of its serial publication, it was printed as a bound volume by Bradbury & Evans in 1848 and was quickly picked up by other London printers as well. As a collected work, the novels bore the subtitle A Novel without a Hero. By the end of 1859, royalties on Vanity Fair had only given Thackeray about £2000, a third of his take from The Virginians, but was responsible for his still more lucrative lecture tours in Britain and the United States.

The novel is a satire of the manners and morals of the upper class in early 19th-century England. It is also a story of love, loss, and redemption. The two main characters, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, are both orphans who are forced to make their way in the world. Becky is a clever and ambitious woman who is determined to make a good match for herself. Amelia is a kind and gentle woman who is content to live a quiet life.

The novel follows the two women as they navigate the treacherous waters of high society. Becky is initially successful in her quest for wealth and status, but she eventually falls from grace. Amelia, on the other hand, remains true to herself and ultimately finds happiness.

Vanity Fair is a complex and fascinating novel that offers a scathing critique of the social and moral conventions of its time. It is also a moving story of human relationships and the power of love