Pendennis: Volume I

by William Makepeace Thackeray

One fine morning in the full London season Major Arthur Pendennis came over from his lodgings according to his custom to breakfast at a certain Club in Pall Mall of which he was a chief ornament.

Genres: Fiction

468 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1910

About the author

William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist, satirist, and journalist, best known for his keen social commentary and his novel Vanity Fair (1847–1848). His works often explored themes of ambition, hypocrisy, and the moral failings of British society, making him one of the most significant literary figures of the Victorian era.
Born in Calcutta, British India, he was sent to England for his education after his father’s death. He attended Charterhouse School, where he developed a distaste for the rigid school system, and later enrolled at Trinity College, Cambridge. However, he left without earning a degree, instead traveling in Europe and pursuing artistic ambitions.
After losing much of his inheritance due to bad investments, Thackeray turned to writing for a living. He contributed satirical sketches, essays, and stories to periodicals such as Fraser’s Magazine and Punch, gradually building a reputation for his sharp wit and keen observational skills. His breakthrough came with Vanity Fair, a panoramic satire of English society that introduced the enduring character of Becky Sharp, a resourceful and amoral social climber.
Thackeray’s later novels, including Pendennis (1848–1850), The History of Henry Esmond (1852), and The Newcomes (1853–1855), continued to explore the lives of the English upper and middle classes, often focusing on the contrast between personal virtue and social ambition. His historical novel Henry Esmond was particularly praised for its detailed 18th-century setting and complex characterization.
In addition to his fiction, Thackeray was a noted public speaker and essayist, delivering lectures on the English humorists of the 18th century and on The Four Georges, a critical look at the British monarchy.
Despite his literary success, he lived with personal struggles, including the mental illness of his wife, Isabella, which deeply affected him. He remained devoted to his two daughters and was known for his kindness and generosity among his friends and colleagues.
His works remain widely read, appreciated for their incisive humor, rich characterizations, and unflinching critique of social pretensions.

Reviews

[Rose · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I want to read Volume 2 (which is sat on my shelf, but not looking very appealing). At first I quite liked it - there was nothing particularly special about the book, but it was enjoyable enough to read. Eventually, though, I got quite tired of it. What got on my nerves was the fact that the main character never actually learns anything. At the beginning he behaves like an idiot, but he's young and its his first foray into the world so it's forgivable. Unfortunately, he repeats similar errors again and again, without the vaguest hint that he's developing at all, and by the end of the book I had lost all sympathy for him. Similarly, the other characters wore out their welcome, either by proving not very deep, or not very smart. The only character I retained any affection for by the end of the book is Laura, who doesn't feature in the narrative all that much, though she's by far the most interesting character, and the one with the most depth and growth. All in all, the story was quite frustrating.

[Meen]

I have both volumes, and both have horribly torn up spines.

[VeganMedusa]

On hold. I read a couple of chapters and haven't found the book since.
Burglars came and stole it? Or house is messy? You decide.