William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray ( THAK-ər-ee; 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was a British novelist, author and illustrator. He is 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, British India, and 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 squandered much of his inheritance on gambling and unsuccessful newspapers. He turned to journalism to support his family, primarily working for Fraser's Magazine, The Times, and Punch. His wife Isabella suffered from mental illness, leaving Thackeray a de facto widower. Thackeray gained fame with his novel Vanity Fair and produced several other notable works. He unsuccessfully ran for Parliament in 1857 and edited the Cornhill Magazine in 1860. Thackeray's health declined due to excessive eating, drinking, and lack of exercise. He died from a stroke at the age of fifty-two. 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's later novels, such as Pendennis and The Newcomes, reflected a mellowing in his tone, focusing on the coming of age of characters and critical portrayals of society. During the Victorian era, Thackeray was ranked second to Charles Dickens but is now primarily known for Vanity Fair. |
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= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.
Recordings
Company | Matrix No. | Size | First Recording Date | Title | Primary Performer | Description | Role | Audio |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Victor | BS-036888 | 10-in. | 5/11/1939 | Little Billee | The Koralites | Dramatic scene | author |
Citation
Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Thackeray, William Makepeace," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102265.
Thackeray, William Makepeace. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102265.
"Thackeray, William Makepeace." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.
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External Sources
Wikipedia: William Makepeace Thackeray
Discogs: William Makepeace Thackeray
Allmusic: William Makepeace Thackeray
IMSLP: William Makepeace Thackeray
IMDb: William Makepeace Thackeray
Britannica: William Makepeace Thackeray
Linked Open Data Sources
LCNAR: Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n78095677
Wikidata: William Makepeace Thackeray - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q167768
VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/95208604
MusicBrainz: William Makepeace Thackeray - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/fdc6ce57-6a40-4721-8c71-abb9e10f78eb
Getty ULAN: Thackeray, William Makepeace - http://vocab.getty.edu/ulan/500026742
ISNI: 0000 0001 2144 1903 - http://www.isni.org/isni/0000000121441903
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