Subtitled, “a novel without a hero,” this multi-layered story introduces readers to many characters over several decades--necessitating multiple narrative threads. Still an enjoyable read.

The story is narrated by a member of vanity fair (british upper middle class) in the 19th century during a time of war. The book is both a social satire as well as a historical fiction.

Is interesting and attention getter. One of the most recognizable devices in his writing is the tangent. And it goes hand in hand with the sense that the men running the world are nothing but blowhards.

The novel chronicles the fortunes and mishaps of two childhood friends, amelia sedley and rebecca sharpe. My favorite moment is when william dobbin, the closest thing to a hero, sets up a much needed boundary with amelia.

For thackeray, each character fits squarely into the ambient setting which he calls vanity fair, in homage to bunyan's “pilgrim’s progress,” a place meant to satirize pre-victorian england. It is this other sense of “vanity” that thackerays satirizes....  Read More

I understand this novel was released in short bits over the course of many months, but that does not excuse the meandering storyline. The abridged audio version of this book boils 800+ pages down to 3 cassettes.

One of the book's most annoying features is thackeray's habit of interrupting the story to tell us his opinions. Many of the characters have multiple names. Becky has no heroic qualities at all. She is a conniving backstabber who will do anything and ...  Read More

It is not readable on my kindle. The kindle edition isn’t readable. The way it's written is weird and jumpy.