Vanity Fair is a serialized novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, published from 1847-1848. The novel was subtitled Pen and Pencil Sketches of English Society, then changed to A Novel without a Hero in 1848. The novel’s characters generally lack positive qualities and are obsessed with social climbing and the acquisition of wealth. Vanity Fair has been adapted for film, television, and theatre.

This guide uses the 2001 Penguin Classics edition.

Content Warning: The source material and guide feature discussions of physical abuse, racism, and suicidal ideation.

Plot Summary

Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley are at Miss Pinkerton’s Academy for young women. Becky is smart, conniving, and from a poor background. Amelia comes from wealth and has an aura of innocence. Miss Pinkerton cannot tolerate Becky’s conduct and arranges for her to serve as a governess on the estate of the Crawley family. Before beginning her position, Becky spends a week at Amelia’s home, where she finds acceptance with Amelia’s family and tries to seduce Amelia’s brother, Jos, who is home from his job as a tax collector in India. Becky almost succeeds, but Amelia’s longstanding romantic interest, George Sedley, advises Jos against it. Jos quickly leaves, and Becky begrudgingly takes up her new post.

The Crawley family members position themselves in line for the inheritance of ailing Aunt Matilda. Becky gets herself in the Crawleys’s good graces and soon, Sir Pitt and his son, Rawdon, both want to marry her. As Sir Pitt declares his love for her, she reveals that she has secretly married Rawdon. Meanwhile, Amelia feels rejected by a distant George. George’s friend, Dobbin, is in love with Amelia. George finally decides to marry Amelia, but the Sedleys lose their fortune, and George is disowned for refusing to abandon Amelia.

The Duke of Wellington declares war and the military moves to Belgium in preparation for the battle. Amelia is worried about George, and Rawdon regrets leaving Becky. Meanwhile, Becky develops feelings for George. George is killed in battle. Sir Pitt begins an affair with the daughter of a butler and scandalizes the household. Aunt Matilda takes a liking to Sir Pitt’s oldest son. Amelia and Becky both bear sons. Widowed Amelia returns to England, and Becky and Rawdon live modestly in France. Becky manipulates people, encouraging men to lose heavily to Rawdon at cards and billiards. The elite women of Paris loathe her.

Sir Pitt dies, and his son inherits Aunt Matilda’s money; he asks Becky, Rawdon, and their son to live at the estate with him. When Becky takes up with Lord Steyne and becomes part of society, he sends her son away to school and keeps her from Rawdon. Rawdon is arrested for not paying gambling debts. Later, when he returns home, he discovers Becky in a compromising situation with Lord Steyne and challenges him to a duel. Rawdon instead accepts a position in a distant colony, arranged for him by Lord Steyne to cover up the scandal. Dobbin reappears in England, where Amelia continues to mourn the death of George. Dobbin helps her care for her son. In time, Amelia’s son is taken in by Mr. Osborne, George’s father, who will be able to give him a better life. However, Osborne still blames her for his estrangement from his deceased son. Twelve years later, Dobbin remains loyal to Amelia. Osborne reconciles with his daughter-in-law before his death, leaving both Amelia and his grandson well provided for.

Amelia and Dobbin travel to Germany, where they find Becky living among the dregs of society. She has traveled across Europe but cannot escape her reputation, forcing her into increasingly scandalous situations. Old feelings and jealousies emerge, complicating things between Becky, Dobbin, and Amelia. Eventually, Becky makes Amelia confront the reality of her dead husband, revealing that he invited Becky to elope with him. This revelation allows Amelia to finally marry Dobbin, and they return to England together. Under suspicious circumstances, Becky receives a benefit from Jos upon his death, thus starting a new life in England.