Description

Thackeray (1811-63) was a British novelist and author best known for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society. After studying at Cambridge University, he travelled for some time in Europe and squandered much of the inheritance he came into aged 21. His marriage in 1836, followed by the birth of his three daughters, made it necessary for him to earn a living and he turned to journalism to support his young family. He wrote art criticism, book reviews and short fictional sketches, becoming a regular contributor to Punch, and eventually established his reputation with the publication of Vanity Fair in 1848. This humorous fantasy of soldiering in India was first published pseudonymously in 1838/39.