Vanity Fair

by Diane Mowat (Retold by), William Makepeace Thackeray

A level 6 Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. Retold for Learners of English by Diane Mowat

When Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley leave school, their feet are set on very different paths. Kind, foolish Amelia returns to her comfortable home and wealthy family, to await a suitable marriage, while Becky must look out for herself, earning her own living in a hard world. But Becky is neither kind nor foolish, and with her quick brain and keen eye for a chance, her fortunes soon rise, while Amelia's fall.

Greed, ambition, loyalty, folly, wisdom . . . this famous novel gives us a witty and satirical picture of English society during the Napoleonic wars.

Genres: Classics

860 pages, Paperback with CD

First published November 23, 2005

Reviews

[Reem Alkhalaf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know why that’s novel remind me of gone with the wind, and Becky remind me of Scarlett in somehow.

[Ula ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Becky was the original cunt of this world

[Miriam Antonacci]

It's a book that enjoyed me and interested me. I really wanted it lasted more.
I liked the end but not at all, just a cause of Becky's fate.
Actually Becky's behaviour has disappointed me so much and I couldn't expect she could hate her son.
I found that a so foolish thing.
It's the first time I read a Thackeray's novel and I loved it because he involved me, until taken me inside of the story. I really recommend it to you!

[Ryota · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives more details than the Penguin Readers 'Vanity Fair,' with pictures penned by William M. Thackeray himself.

[Çetineus · Rating 2 out of 5]

'Oh, the vanity and folly of human wishes! Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has our heart's desire? Or, having it, is satisfied?'

[ema · Rating 3 out of 5]

stejne bych to stihla precit vcas heheh, ale actually to bylo celkem dobry

[Ella Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahaha, så behøver jeg ikke læse den rigtige!

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this famous novel, Thackeray shows us how life was at the beginning of the 19th century. Becky Sharp is desperate to claw her way into the high society, no matter what it takes. She's cunning, clever and quick-minded. However wicked she may be, compared to Amelia Sedley, a good-natured, naive and kind girl, she'll have more opportunities in the real world.
When Amelia's husband dies in battle of Waterloo, she is left devastated, unable to move on with her life. While grieving her beloved husband, she is also carrying his child. She is taken care of by Dobbin, her late husband's good friend and when the child is born, she finds in him an object of adoration.
Meanwhile, cunning and crafty Rebecca Sharp marries Rawdon Crawley and does everything there is in her power to be introduced to the high society. She wants women to invite her to their parties, she wants everyone to bow to her. Becky's every move is calculated. She is the complete opposite of poor, foolish Amelia.
Both girls want different things, but as Thackeray writes :"Which of us is happy in this world? Which of us has his desire? or, having it, is satisfied?"

[Daisy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this from the library, expecting the 800 pages version but instead I got this one, 136 numbered pages to be exact. And I loved it none-the-less. For those who believe that the story could make do with more than half the pages from the original version cut, then definitely take a peep at this one. It's straight up and down to the point. There was never a dull moment reading this, although I have to admit it is very fast pace just because the books been shortened by 7/8 (significant much?). There are many characters involved and it does get confusing at first, but the first pages will have one page dedicated to listing all the characters which I found very helpful because I had to constantly refer back to that page. After months of boring books I disagreed with, a well worthy-to-read book finally comes up. I don't think that I could've said the same if I were to read the 800 page version, I just don't have the patient for that.

[Margherita Pohorletska · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love this story! As often happens, however, I have seen the film before and after I read this book. Personally, I think the film with Reese Witherspoon is more beautiful. Anyway the story is wonderful. I recommend everyone to read it.

[Tanaporn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how the writer compare Becky and Emmy like the goods and bads so readers could see how lives would be