Burlesques

"Burlesques" by William Makepeace Thackeray is a compilation of witty and satirical stories that show off the author's sharp observations about society, probably written in the middle of the 1800s. The collection has different stories that make fun of society, books, and current events, displaying Thackeray's special way of telling stories and judging people's behavior. The book begins by introducing readers to different characters and places through a table of contents that lists stories from different writers, playfully investigating different types of stories and writing. One main story tells about George de Barnwell, who is shown as a poetic person dealing with a difficult fight between his goals and what is real, as he figures out complicated issues of love and what society expects. The beginning prepares readers for a story full of humor and a more profound story that talks about timeless ideas of wanting, right and wrong, and what it means to be human.