Vanity Fair: A Novel without a Hero is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847–48, satirizing society in early 19th-century Britain. The book's title comes from John Bunyan's allegorical story The Pilgrim's Progress, first published in 1678 and still widely read at the time of Thackeray's novel. Vanity fair refers to a stop along the pilgrim's progress: a never-ending fair held in a town called Vanity, which is meant to represent man's sinful attachment to worldly things. The novel is now considered a classic, and has inspired several film adaptations.
- Available now
- Sweeten Up Your Holidays!
- New eBook additions
- Graphic Novels, Manga, and Superheroes!
- New kids additions
- New teen additions
- Most popular
- Try something different
- Resources for Libraries
- New Russian Language Books
- New Spanish Language Books
- "Se me enchina la piel" - Libros espantosos para adultos
- See all
- New audiobook additions
- Full-cast audio
- Great Audiobook Narrators!
- New teen additions
- New kids additions
- Available now
- Most popular
- Try something different
- See all
- Diverse Families
- Family Road Trip
- Reese Witherspoon's Book Club Reads
- The 100 Best Teen Books of All Time!
- Spies, Lies & Political Intrigue
- Great Adult Books for Teens!
- Transgender/nonbinary reads
- What's Next? Getting to a New Normal
- Twisty Psychological Thrillers
- Need a Laugh?
- Learn English
- African-American Romance
- Burnout: Signs, Symptoms and Strategies
- See all