Men's Wives

By William Makepeace Thackeray

In a certain quiet and sequestered nook of the retired village of London - perhaps in the neighbourhood of Berkeley Square, or at any rate somewhere near Burlington Gardens-there was once a house of entertain-ment called the "Bootjack Hotel." Mr. Crump, the landlord, had, in the outset of life, performed the duties of Boots in some inn even more frequented than his own, and, far from being ashamed of his origin, as many persons are in the days of their prosperity, had thus solemnly recorded it over the hospitable gate of his hotel. Crump married Miss Budge, so well known to the admirers of the festive dance on the other side of the water as Miss Delancy; and they had one daughter, named Morgiana, after that celebrated part in the "Forty Thieves" which Miss Budge performed with unbounded applause both at the "Surrey" and "The Wells."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Start Classics
• Release date: Jan 31, 2014
• ISBN: 9781609772123

William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray was born in Calcutta in 1811. He was sent to England in 1817 and was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. Following a period of gambling, unsuccessful investments and a brief career as a lawyer, he turned to writing and drawing. In 1836 he married Isabella Shawe; following the birth of their second daughter, her mental health deteriorated and she had to be permanently supervised by a private nurse. Thackeray's first novel, Catherine, was published in 1839-40. Following the success of Vanity Fair (1847-8) he was able to devote himself to fiction, and his other notable works include Pendennis (1849), The History of Henry Esmond (1852) and The Newcomes (1855). He also edited the commercially successful Cornhill Magazine, which published writers such as Tennyson, George Eliot and Harriet Beecher Stowe. Thackeray died suddenly on Christmas Eve, 1863.

Reviews for Men's Wives

[davidgnp · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This satire of manners is narrated by the eponymous 'hero', though only he gives himself that epithet. Barry Lyndon is possibly the most unreliable narrator in English literature, and there is a great deal of entertainment to be had in contrasting his version of characters and events with the truth that peeps out through the pages. It is good fun to be shown aspects of eighteenth century high society with all its hypocrisy and foibles in the company of a (largely) lovable scoundrel, though his relentless boasting does occasionally become tedious. I learned a lot about fashionable society and its dirty linen, laughed a lot at Lyndon's cock-eyed self-image (as delusive as Don Quixote's), and even felt a tinge of sadness at his demise, however deserved.

[slickdpdx · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Three Reasons to read The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Esq.1. Thackeray is a fine writer and it is a fine tale - a bit better than Vanity Fair, I think. Thackeray's non-fiction writing is even better yet.2. Compare Kubrick's adaptation in the film Barry Lyndon. He departs from the story in several respects but is true to the story in general. A remarkable adaptation.3. Reflect upon the life of Ryan O'Neal and its unfortunate correspondences to the life of Barry, after whom he named his son, Redmond.