Quite witty, with barbed humor. ( )

Quite witty, with barbed humor. ( )

O, the satisfaction in finishing this book! Thackeray is a cynical genius - more pessimistic and critical than Dickens - and the characters in 'Vanity Fair' are captivating, but this is a heavy book padded with much social commentary and subjective griping from the author. The trick, I think, to persevering, is to read a copy with type of a legible size.

This 'novel without a hero' - although the dependable and earnest Dobbin is more than worthy of that honour - is about the proud, arrogant, pompous, grasping, sly, hypocritical and vain men and women of Vanity Fair, Thackeray's name for society, and those who aspire to be accepted amongst its ranks. The anti-heroine of the story is Becky Sharp, who claws her way up from charity case to governess to army wife, at the expense of friends and lovers, but without finding satisfaction or happiness. Her tenacity and ambition are admirable, but Becky is rarely likeable - her exploits are amusing, talented and charming, but she is not a sympathetic character by any means. For all that she hurts others - her devoted husband and neglected son - there is an appropriate sense of justice in Thackeray's novel that keeps knocking Becky down at the height of her success. The odious Lord Steyne is more than a match for her scheming, and watching her come undone is refreshing. Of course, she is rarely down for long, and never defeated. The rest of the cast are also vividly human in their faults and the choices they make - pathetic Emmy and her poor father, conceited George, ridiculous Jos, proud Mr Osbourne. These characters are the strength of the novel, carrying the reader through the social and historical lectures which fill the rest of the tome.

That said, Thackeray's sharp observations on the beahviour of men and women are still relevant today, and very droll in the telling. Backbiting amongst female friends, the plain companion of the vivacious beauty, English travellers herding together abroad and recreating a 'little England' in foreign countries - not much has changed!

I heartily recommend this sizeable novel, but if the footnotes and meandering narrative are intimidating, then the BBC miniseries with Natasha Little as Becky, Philip Glenister as the wonderful Dobbin and Nathaniel Parker as Rawdon, is an excellent introduction, faithful in spirit to the text. ( )

On one level, Vanity Fair is a (rather convoluted) love story. On another level it's a moral tale, about choices in life and where they lead you. On another level it's a clever and amusing satire about society in Thackeray's day - and much of it still applies today. On another level it's a study of the helplessness of women, and the desperate or submissive ways they had to act to influence their destiny... and yet however hard they fought, their destiny would often still be the same.

And over it all, it's a story about interesting, rounded characters in glittering and ever-changing settings. It's a fun book. It made me laugh, and it made me think. It's the reason why so many faithful horses and donkeys over time have been named 'Dobbin'. Becky Sharp is one of the most fascinating characters to enter the world of fiction - you hate her, love her, pity her, despise her, admire her and condemn her - and despite all the suffering she causes other people, you can't help wishing her well.

I should add that this book is not for everyone. We're reading it for my October book group, and I gather from other people's comments that it's not universally popular. I imagine that if you're not familiar with society in Thackeray's time then you'll probably miss a lot of the point. Also, Thackeray's use of authorial intrusion, which I love and think is done wonderfully well, might annoy some people. And, be warned - it's long!

Becky was born French mother who is opera girl. So she can speak French fuluently. She become social clamber. This book is classic story. ( )