Catherine

Contrary to the author's express purpose, and despite his provoking tactics to that effect, this book, Thackeray's first novel, rather than dissuade me from scouting the passages of the heinous yet esteemed Newgate faculty, aroused my morbidness and consigned me to roam along the villains resurrecte......more

I was delighted with this. I want to do a complete Thackeray read, so I had to start with his first, although what I read about it didn't fill me with confidence. But it was very funny, I loved his authorial voice and despite what you may read, the plot works as well. OK, it's not as rounded as Vani......more

like it’s no vanity fair and i see why he thought this was a failure in terms of the project it was trying to be and hell no i would not widely recommend this but if you’re a victorianist interested in popular fiction??? then yeah tbh it’s relevant and interesting and i think should be read more whe......more

A great first great work, by one of the great authors of Victorian era. The short work expounds the worst in the characters, and warns the reader in romanticizing scoundrels.......more

Wow! What a pleasant surprise this novel was. I only read it because I got the complete works of Thackeray on my Kindle. It is my experience that first novel seem to be interesting at best or how-they-improved at worst. This, though, is an exception. Thackerary's first was extremely engaging, very f......more