William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist, essayist, and illustrator. He is best known for his satirical works, particularly his 1848 novel Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of British society, and the 1844 novel The Luck of Barry Lyndon, which was adapted for a 1975 film by Stanley Kubrick.

* Thackeray was born in Calcutta, India, in 1811.
* He was sent to England after his father's death in 1815.
* He studied at various schools and briefly attended Trinity College, Cambridge, before leaving to travel Europe.
* Thackeray began as a satirist and parodist, gaining popularity through works that showcased his fondness for roguish characters.
* He is best known for Vanity Fair, featuring Becky Sharp, and The Luck of Barry Lyndon.
* Thackeray's early works were marked by savage attacks on high society, military prowess, marriage, and hypocrisy, often written under various pseudonyms.
* His writing career began with satirical sketches like The Yellowplush Papers.
* Thackeray died in London in 1863.