Vanity Fair (Collins Classics)

I don't know how I ended up ordering this but it is not the actual book. It reads like a synopsis or revision notes summarising the story. Perhaps it is aimed at children? Sentences like 'Dobbin was very sad. He could not think about marrying any other girls when he loved Amelia' indicate it might be. There is no indication that it is not the complete novel anywhere in the product description.

I've been meaning to read this book forever. The TV series persuaded me as I hate to see a book badly portrayed on screen. I've just finished the book and I'm at episode two of the TV series. So far the TV portrayal has done the book justice.To get back to the book: Hard going at times, I hated Dickens at school and it's of the same style. But the characters are gorgeous and his description of them and their stories is very readable. If you can wade through the overwordiness, which though relevant at the time, means very little to the modern reader, this is a very enjoyable romp.Now, where's the TV remote? Time for episode three.

I recently enjoyed watching ITV’s adaptation of Vanity Fair and so thought that it was high time I read the book. I’m sure that the book’s plot is excellent, or it wouldn’t have become a classic, still being read after all these years. Unfortunately, I didn’t get on with Thackeray’s writing style which I suppose is very much of the time when it was written. I found it rather too “busy” and quite exhausting to read so had to give up after a short while, which was disappointing. Just not my cup of tea, I’m afraid.

Don't let the length out you off. This is a thoroughly enjoyable read. There is a slight element of longuer about two thirds of the way through, but that is easily passed over with no loss either of enjoyment or plot.I hadn't read it for (mumbles) decades, er, years and had forgotten several parts, including the ever-delightful Mrs O'Dowd "of the Molonys and Molloys", but most of all I'd forgotten how cleverly Rebecca manages to remain, as she and her supporters endlessly claim, 'pure' while obtaining all the advantages her detractors suggest are otherwise acquired. Her occasional fits of compassion and even kindness, providing they don't cost her anything, of course, make her a more rounded character than she would otherwise have been.To a 21st century reader Amelia is, like almost all 19th century heroines, rather insipid and too feeble in both body and character to appeal much, but unlike some of her sisters in fiction stays just this side of downright irritating and in need of a good slap. (At least we're spared some of their pious religiosity.) And compared to the spirited Becky it's easy to find our sympathies tending to the latter at times, as no doubt the author intended it should, each character the perfect foil of the other, the contrast forming the major spine of the story. And the reader does cheer both of them on: we want Amelia to stop moping and accept Dobbin, just as much as we admire Rebecca's cleverness in spinning yarns and fighting her way through life to achieve a height — whether of status or notoriety depends on who is asked — unlikely given her lowly start.But, even though the author claims "this is a book without a hero", the real hero of the book is the steady, ploddingly-named Dobbin, he of perfect patience and perfectly upright behaviour in all circumstances. He ought to be as infuriating in his way as any milk-and-water 19th century heroine he is so without faults, and his unshakeable attachment to Amelia ought to make the reader want to award him a good slap or two as well. Yet somehow his genuine good nature, warmth and lack of any piety, false or otherwise, wins one over. One wants him to succeed in his aims even more than the two women. It is essentially the story of dogged, plodding Dobbin (See what I did there?😉 Okay, me and the author) that holds us throughout the book.Along the way there are some deliciously waspish comments about life at Vanity Fair, comments that have enough resonance today to make you smile, or perhaps grimace, together with a large cast of entertaining minor characters who display all the vanities and falsities to be found there, then as now.Perhaps it's for this reason that the book is as enjoyable today as it ever was. It's a much easier read, too, in terms of its language and style than some others of similar era. In fact it jogs along so easily, its characters are so engaging and its wit so sly that despite its length it requires no effort from the reader and feels like a loss to have finished. I may even read it again in another couple of decades', er, years' time.

It was at first very hard going as it is written in very old fashioned prose and very very long. The storyline is as evocative today as then and should be included in the school curriculum as it shows the absurdity of vanity and pride. W.M.Thackeray was an extremely clever comic and the book at times made me laugh out loud. I’m very glad I revisited this book (first read when I was 15, I am now 70), and am now enjoying the television series on catchup.

I liked this book. Of course, it is written in a style lost to us save in the writings of the author and Dickens, it is verbose and overlong, but the reader is gratified by descriptive writing not to be found in this day and age. The central story has been taken and displayed as the TV serial, but the underlying message is mangled and Becky Sharp is served badly. Becky is treated badly by those wishing to rewrite this story for 21st century consumption, you should read this novel and make up your own mind.I rated this 4* because some time the writings are a bit turgid and you have to persevere. Perseverance is rewarded with passages of genuine beauty and not a little humour, this is a really involving read full of rounded characters and decent plotting.

Having seen just a few episodes of Thackeray's classic on the T.V, I decided to read the book. Delighted to see that Kindle offered a version for £1: 99p. Unfortunately, this version was laughable..the text read as if 'written' by a computer in the first stages of learning about google translation, or as if Thackeray had written in an obscure Higher Himalayan dialect which it was struggling to translate into a semblance of English. The positive thing was that our local library opened its doors after 'Lockdown', and I got a copy of 'Vanity Fair ' straight away.. a wonderful book, with lots of insights from the author about the social situations of the time regarding class and the difficulties faced by most women without a substantial private income. I do recommend the book, but do steer clear of this particular 'kindle' version... ..AND I'd like my money back, please, Amazon!