Vanity Fair

"Vanity Fair" by William Makepeace Thackeray is an exploration of 19th-century British society through the stories of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, two young women navigating a world obsessed with status and appearances. The book kicks off with the lively atmosphere of Vanity Fair, where Miss Pinkerton manages her students, who include the kind Amelia Sedley and the crafty Becky Sharp. As Becky and Amelia leave school, their contrasting personalities become clear: Becky is determined to climb the social ladder by any means necessary, while Amelia is more innocent and trusting. The novel's tone has sharp humor that shows the characters' ambitions, loves, and dreams of improving their position in the world.