William makepeace thackeray biography wiki

Both were popular authors of periodical publications, but otherwise a 'comparison' was as absurd as most comparisons of disparate qualities. As a matter of fact, Dickens had an incomparably larger circulation, as was natural to one who appealed to a wider audience. Thackeray had as many or possibly more adherents among the more cultivated critics; but for some years the two reigned supreme among novelists.

The second edition was dedicated in very enthusiastic terms to the 'Satirist of Vanity Fair. Rochester became current, and was mentioned seriously in a review of 'Vanity Fair' in the 'Quarterly' for January Miss Bronte came to London in Juneand was introduced to her hero. She met him at her publisher's house, and dined at his house on 12 June. Miss Bronte's genius did not include a sense of humour, and she rebuked Thackeray for some 'errors of doctrine,' which he defended by 'worse excuses.

She attended one of his lectures inand, though a little scandalised by some of his views, cordially admired his great qualities. The book has more autobiography than any of the novels, and clearly embodies the experience of Thackeray's early life so fully that it must be also pointed out that no stress must be laid upon particular facts.

Nor is it safe to identify any of the characters with originals, though Captain Shandon has been generally taken to represent Maginn; and Mrs. Carlyle gives a lively account in January of a young lady whom she supposed to be the william makepeace thackeray biography wiki of Blanche Amory Memorialsii. When accused of 'fostering a baneful william makepeace thackeray biography wiki against literary men,' Thackeray defended himself in a letter to the 'Morning Chronicle' of 12 Jan.

The state of Thackeray's finances up to Maginn's death seems to make this impossible, though the statement see above made by Father Prout suggests that on some pretext Maginn may have obtained such a sum from Thackeray. Anyway the book is a transcript from real life, and shows perhaps as much power as 'Vanity Fair,' with less satirical intensity.

A severe illness at the end of interrupted the appearance of 'Pendennis,' which was not concluded till December The book is dedicated to Dr. John Elliotson [q. On 25 Feb. An attempt to elect him in had been defeated by the opposition of one member. He was never, as has been said, 'blackballed. The illness of appears to have left permanent effects.

He was afterwards liable to attacks which caused much suffering. Meanwhile, although he was now making a good income, he was anxious to provide for his children and recover what he had lost in his youth. He resolved to try his hand at lecturing, following a precedent already set by such predecessors as Coleridge, Hazlitt, and Carlyle. The first on Swiftthough attended by many friends, including Carlyle, Kinglake, Hallam, Macaulay, and Milman, seemed to him to be a failure ib.

The lectures soon became popular, as they deserved to be. Thackeray was not given to minute research, and his facts and dates require some correction. But his delicate appreciation of the congenial writers and the finish of his style give the lectures a permanent place in criticism. His 'light-in-hand manner,' as Motley remarked of a later course, 'suits well the delicate hovering rather than superficial style of his composition.

The lectures had apparently been prepared with a view to an engagement in America Brookfield Correspondencep. Before starting he published 'Esmond,' of which FitzGerald says 2 June that 'it was finished last Saturday. His style had reached its highest perfection, and the tenderness of the feeling has won perhaps more admirers for this book than for the more powerful and sterner performances of the earlier period.

The manuscript, now in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge, shows that it was written with very few corrections, and in great part dictated to his eldest daughter and Mr. Earlier manuscripts show much more alteration, and he clearly obtained a completer mastery of his tools by long practice. The book had a good sale from the first, although the contrary has been stated.

For the first edition of 'Esmond' Thackeray received 1, l. It was published by Messrs. George Smith of that firm, who became a warm friend for the rest of his life Mrs. RitchieChaptersp. On 30 Oct. Reed, who has described their intercourseBaltimore, Richmond, Charleston, and Savannah. He was received with the characteristic hospitality of Americans, and was thoroughly pleased with the people, making many friends in the southern as well as in the northern states—a circumstance which probably affected his sympathies during the subsequent civil war.

He returned in the spring of with about 2, l. Soon after his return he stayed three weeks in London, and, after spending a month with the Smyths, went with his children to Switzerland. There, as he says The Newcomeslast chapterhe strayed into a wood near Berne, where the story of 'The Newcomes' was 'revealed to him somehow. For 'The Newcomes' he apparently received 4, l.

It was again published in numbers, and was illustrated by his friend Richard Doyle [q. Thackeray was now living at 36 Onslow Square, to which he had moved from Young Street in At Christmas Thackeray went with his daughters to Rome. There, to amuse some children, he made the drawings which gradually expanded into the delightful burlesque of 'The Rose and the Ring,' published with great success in The last number of 'The Newcomes' appeared in Augustand in October Thackeray started for a second lecturing tour in the United States.

Sixty of his friends gave him a farewell dinner 11 Oct. The Georges, however, had been dead for some time. On this occasion his tour extended as far as New Orleans. An attempt on his return journey to reproduce the 'English Humorists' in Philadelphia failed owing to the lateness of the season. Thackeray said that he could not bear to see the 'sad, pale-faced young man' who had lost money by undertaking the speculation, and left behind him a sum to replace what had been lost.

He returned to England in April The lectures upon the Georges were repeated at various places in England and Scotland. He received from thirty to fifty guineas a lecture PollockReminiscencesii. Although they have hardly the charm of the more sympathetic accounts of the 'humorists,' they show the same qualities of style, and obtained general if not equal popularity.

Thackeray's hard struggle, which had brought fame and social success, had also enabled him to form a happier home. His children had lived with him from ; but while they were in infancy the house without a mistress was naturally grave and quiet. Thackeray had the strongest love of all children, and was a most affectionate father to his own. He did all that he could to make their lives bright.

He took them to plays and concerts, or for long drives into the country, or children's parties at the Dickenses' and elsewhere. They became known to his friends, grew up to be on the most easy terms with him, and gave him a happy domestic circle. She became a sister to his daughters, and in married his cousin, now Colonel Edward Talbot Thackeray, V.

His old college friend Brookfield was now settled as a clergyman in London, and had married a very charming wife. The published correspondence shows how much value Thackeray attached to this intimacy. Another dear friend was John Leech, to whom he was specially attached. He was also intimate with Richard Doyle and other distinguished artists, including Landseer and Mr.

Another friend was Henry Thoby Prinsep [q. Herman Merivale [q. Merivale's memoir. Thackeray was specially kind to the younger members of his friends' families. He considered it to be a duty to 'tip' schoolboys, and delighted in giving them holidays at the play. His old friendships with Monckton Milnes Lord HoughtonVenables, Kinglake, and many other wellknown men were kept up both at his clubs and at various social meetings.

The Carlyles were always friendly, in spite of Carlyle's severe views of a novelist's vocation. Thackeray's time, however, was much taken up by lecturing and by frequent trips to the continent or various country places in search of relaxation. His health was far from strong. On 11 Nov. This decline of health is probably to be traced in the comparative want of vigour of his next writings.

Thackeray was always a decided liberal in politics, though never much interested in active agitation. He promised to vote for the ballot in extension of the suffrage, and was ready to accept triennial parliaments. His opponent was Mr. Edward afterwards Viscount Cardwell [q. Thackeray seems to have done better as a speaker than might have been expected, and Cardwell only won 21 July by a narrow majority—1, to 1, Thackeray had fought the contest with good temper and courtesy.

Cardwell a business which I am sure he understands better than I do. It embodied a few of his American recollections see Reed's Haud Immemorand continued with less than the old force the history of the Esmond family. A careful account of the genealologies in Thackeray's novels is given by Mr. Gonner in 'Time' for pp. Thackeray told Motley that he contemplated a grand novel of the period of Henry V, in which the ancestors of all his imaginary families should be assembled, He mentions this scheme in a letter to FitzGerald in In June Edmund Yates [q.

Yates, in answer, refused to accept Thackeray's account of the article or to make any apology. Thackeray then laid the matter before the committee of the Garrick Club, of which both he and Yates were members, on the ground that Yates's knowledge was only derived from meetings at the club. A general meeting of the club in July passed resolutions calling upon Yates to apologise under penalty of further action.

Dickens warmly took Yates's part. Yates afterwards disputed the legality of the club's action, and counsel's opinion was taken on both sides. In November Dickens offered to act as Yates's friend in a conference with a representative of Thackeray with a view to arranging 'some quiet accommodation. Nothing came of this. Yates had to leave the club, and he afterwards dropped the legal proceedings on the ground of their costliness.

Thackeray's disgust will be intelligible to every one who holds that journalism is degraded by such personalities. He would have been fully justified in breaking off intercourse with a man who had violated the tacit code under which gentlemen associate. He was, however, stung by his excessive sensibility into injudicious action. Yates, in a letter suppressed by Dickens's advice, had at first retorted that Thackeray in his youth had been equally impertinent to Bulwer and Lardner, and had caricatured members of the club in some of his fictitious characters.

Thackeray's regrettable freedoms did not really constitute a parallel offence. But a recollection of his own errors might have suggested less vehement action. There was clearly much ground for Dickens's argument that the club had properly no right to interfere in the matter. The most unfortunate result was an alienation between the two great novelists.

Thackeray was no doubt irritated at Dickens's support of Yates, though it is impossible to accept Mr. Jeaffreson's william makepeace thackeray biography wiki that jealousy of Dickens was at the bottom of this miserable affair. Though they had always been on terms of courtesy, they were never much attracted by each other personally. Dickens did not care for Thackeray's later work.

Thackeray, on the other hand, though making certain reserves, expressed the highest admiration of Dickens's work both in private and public, and recognised ungrudgingly the great merits which justified Dickens's wider popularity see e. Thackeray's established reputation was soon afterwards recognised by a new position. With 'Macmillan's Magazine,' begun in the previous month, it set the new fashion of shilling magazines.

The 'Cornhill' was illustrated, and attracted many of the rising artists of the day. Thackeray's editorship gave it prestige, and the first numbers had a sale of over a hundred thousand. His acquaintance with all men of literary mark enabled him to enlist some distinguished contributors; Tennyson among others, whose 'Tithonus' first appeared in the second number.

One of the first contributors was Anthony Trollope, to whom Thackeray had made early application. He was pained by the necessity of rejecting articles from poor authors who had no claim but poverty, and by having to refuse his friends—such as Mrs. Browning and Trollope himself—from deference to absurd public prejudices. An editor no doubt requires on occasion thickness of skin if not hardness of heart.

Trollope, however, makes the more serious complaint that Thackeray was unmethodical and given to procrastination. As a criticism of Thackeray's methods of writing, this of course tells chiefly against the critic. Trollope's amusing belief in the virtues of what he calls 'elbow-grease' is characteristic of his own methods of production. But an editor is certainly bound to be businesslike, and Thackeray no doubt had shortcomings in that direction.

Manuscripts were not considered with all desirable punctuality and despatch. William Thackeray is managed by the England Project. Join: England Project Discuss: england. Is William your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or commentor contact a profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question. Sponsored Search by Ancestry.

Search Records. DNA Connections It may be possible to confirm family relationships. If so, login to add it. If not, see our friends at Ancestry DNA. Images: 2 William Thackeray. W M Thackeray in his study. During the Victorian era Thackeray was ranked second only to Charles Dickensbut he is now much less widely read and is known almost exclusively for Vanity Fairwhich has become a fixture in university courses, and has been repeatedly adapted for the cinema and television.

In Thackeray's own day some commentators, such as Anthony Trolloperanked his History of Henry Esmond as his greatest work, perhaps because it expressed Victorian values of duty and earnestness, as did some of his other later novels. It is perhaps for this reason that they have not survived as well as Vanity Fairwhich satirises those values.

Thackeray saw himself as writing in the realistic tradition, and distinguished his work from the exaggerations and sentimentality of Dickens. Some later commentators have accepted this self-evaluation and seen him as a realist, but others note his inclination to use eighteenth-century narrative techniques, such as digressions and direct addresses to the reader, and argue that through them he frequently disrupts the illusion of reality.

The school of Henry Jameswith its emphasis on maintaining that illusion, marked a break with Thackeray's techniques. In the Royal Society of Arts unveiled a blue plaque to commemorate Thackeray at the house at 2 Palace Green, London, that had been built for him in the s. Thackeray's former home in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, is now a restaurant named after the author.

The Christmas Books of Mr M. Titmarsh Thackeray wrote and illustrated five Christmas books as "by Mr M. Contents move to sidebar hide. Article Talk. Read Edit View history. Tools Tools. Download as PDF Printable version. In other projects. Wikimedia Commons Wikiquote Wikisource Wikidata item. English novelist and illustrator — For other uses, see Thackeray disambiguation.

Biography [ edit ]. Works [ edit ]. Perkins's Ballunder the name M. Family [ edit ]. Parents [ edit ]. Descendants [ edit ]. Reputation and legacy [ edit ]. This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations.

William makepeace thackeray biography wiki

Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. August Learn how and when to remove this message. In popular culture [ edit ]. List of works [ edit ]. Series [ edit ]. Novels [ edit ]. Novellas [ edit ]. Sketches and satires [ edit ]. Play [ edit ]. Travel writing [ edit ]. Other non-fiction [ edit ]. Poems [ edit ]. See also [ edit ].

Footnotes [ edit ]. References [ edit ]. The Inheritance of Genius : A Thackeray family biography, Cambridge, UK: Lutterworth Press. ISBN OCLC Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed. The World and Its People. Silver, Burdett. The Charterhouse. Retrieved 8 June A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge. Victorian Periodicals Review.

S2CID March Nineteenth-Century Fiction. JSTOR History Ireland historyireland. Retrieved 17 July An Uneasy Victorian: Thackeray the man, — London, UK: Cassell. Memory and Legacy: A Thackeray family biography, — Cambridge, UK: Lutterworth. Britannica Biographies. And while he failed to distinguish himself at school, he did develop the fondness for Horace and other classical authors his childhood experiences had almost robbed him of.

After william makepeace thackeray biography wiki Cambridge, Thackeray traveled on the Continent, spending a winter at Weimar, which included an introduction to the aged Goethe. Thackeray took away from Weimar a command of the language, a knowledge of German Romantic literature, and an increasing skepticism about religious doctrine. The time he spent here is reflected in the "Pumpernickel" chapters of Vanity Fair.

On his return from Germany, Thackeray lived the life of a propertied young gentleman, including more gambling, drinking in taverns, and, undoubtedly, sexual encounters with women. Though just how wild Thackeray's life was at this time remains ambiguous—Ray prints a journal entry in which he is repelled by William Maginn's taste in brothels—he most probably first developed at this time his "stricture of the urethra," a condition which would plague him for the rest of his life and which Monsarrat speculates was a consequence of gonorrhea.

Thackeray's next attempt at finding an occupation led him to the Inns of Courtwhere he tried briefly to study law and gathered instead more of the atmosphere of "gentlemanly idleness" Ray 1. Ray next places Thackeray in the shady world of bill-discounters in London, but soon he invested part of his patrimony in a weekly paper, The National Standardwhich he took over as editor and proprietor.

Though the paper went under quickly, it gave Thackeray his first taste of the world of London journalism, where he was soon to begin a long and haphazard apprenticeship. Thackeray's father had left him an estate of approximately 17, pounds, but this fortune was lost, mostly through the failure of an Indian bank, an event from his life that Thackeray once again found use for in The Newcomes.

This financial disaster forced Thackeray out of idleness and into serious work as a journalist. After trying out briefly the life of an artist in bohemian London and Paris in andThackeray began to put both pen and pencil to work for such periodicals as Fraser's MagazineThe Morning Chronicleand, most successfully, Punch. It was in Paris, as well, that he met his wife, Isabella Shawe, and the two settled briefly here when first married in before returning to London.

Metropolitan Museum of Art Accession Number: Before the success of Vanity FairThackeray worked as a free-lance journalist for about ten years, publishing literary criticism, art criticism, topical articles, and fiction either anonymously or under a number of comic pseudonyms. During this apprenticeship, Thackeray also produced his first books, collections of essays and observations published as travel books.

The Paris Sketch Book sold enough to cover its costs, provide its author with decent payment, and, perhaps most importantly for Thackeray, interest publishers in seeing more of his work. In addition he considered doing a series for Blackwood's on Belgium. This arduous combination of hack writing often completed in London clubs for the peace and quiet they afforded and frequent travel took Thackeray away from home quite a bit, and--as he later recognized--kept him from detecting the seriousness of his wife's growing depression.

Thackeray and Isabella Shawe had had a happy marriage during their first years of penury. But as financial demands forced Thackeray into more and more work, Isabella was more isolated and lonely. After the birth of her third child the second had died at six monthsshe began to withdraw, becoming apathetic and fitful by turns and fighting with her husband's grandmother, "a pestering old body.

When she became suicidal, leaping into the ocean during a trip to see her unsympathetic mother in Ireland whom her son-in-law later represented as the termagent Mrs. Mackenzie in The NewcomesThackeray began a series of futile searches for a cure. He took Isabella to various spas and sanitoriums, at one point undergoing a "water cure" with her, since she wouldn't do it alone.