Vanity Fair

By: William Makepeace Thackeray

Narrated by: John Castle

Length: 31 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Exclusively from Audible

Set during the time of the Napoleonic Wars, this classic gives a satirical picture of a worldly society. The audiobook revolves around the exploits of the impoverished but beautiful and devious Becky Sharp who craves wealth and a position in society. Calculating and determined to succeed, she charms, deceives and manipulates everyone she meets.

A story of early 19th-century English society, it takes its title from the place designated as the centre of human corruption in John Bunyan's 17th-century allegory Pilgrim's Progress.

Receiving popular and critical success on first publication, the novel is considered Thackeray's masterpiece, and this satire of society is as relevant now as when it first appeared. In 2003, Vanity Fair was listed at Number 122 on the BBC's The Big Read poll of the UK's best-loved books.

Thackeray was born in Calcutta in 1811. After his father's death, he was sent to be educated in England at five years old, while is mother remarried in India. The canings and abuses he received in private boarding schools formed a basis for some of his work as did the culture of Anglo-Indians which also featured prominently.

Narrator Biography

After training at RADA, John's professional career began in 1964 at the Regent's Park Theatre.

Film credits include Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow Up, The Lion in Winter, Man of La Mancha, King David, Antony and Cleopatra, Robocop 2 and The Sparrow. Theatre credits include Bloody Sunday (The Tricycle Theatre), Claudius in Hamlet (National Theatre), Rat in the Skull (Duke of York's Theatre), End Game (Tron Theatre, Glasgow), Shylock in The Merchant of Venice (London Shakespeare Group), Infidelities (The Boulevard Theatre), and Breaking the Code (The Comedy Theatre). Television credits include Tracate Middoth, The Fixer, Spooks, Poirot, Silent Witness, The Holocaust on Trial, Casualty, Princes in the Tower, Gods and Generals, Fight Against Slavery, Ben Hall, I, Claudius, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, and Lillie.

Public Domain (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

Vanitas Vanitatum

This is an excellent book with an interesting story that is written with exquisite English prose.

John Castle’s narration could not be improved upon. He reads it with wonderful nuance and expression and with clear enunciation.

It was a marvel to listen to after having read many years ago!

Glad I read it

I hesitated due to length and the large number of characters - names are the hardest part of listening for me, But it was much easier than I expected. Having just read several works of Thomas Hardy, i felt this work set up some of the elements of Hardy's work. If I want to get a handle on the possible untrustworthy narrative voice, I will definitely have to listen again.

Great narration that puts you there

Novels of this era ramble a lot, and this was originally a story presented in installments. The best part of this audiobook was having a narrator with the skills to capture the nuance and humor of the story.

Outstanding narration of an essential masterpiece

This is an outstanding narration of an essential masterpiece. Vanity Fair is as relevant today as when it was written. The narrator reveals Thackeray’s wit, irony, and literary mastery. It is thoroughly enjoyable.

It was a wonderfully complex classic novel.

I loved the story plot and the way the author occasionally injected himself into the text.

Great narration makes this classic even better!

What a book. It was a bit of a marathon to listen to but with the exception of two or three chapters in the latter part of the book (about Pumpernickle) I was thoroughly entertained both by the story and the narrator, John Castle, who pulled out all the stops in his witty narration of a very witty book. Thackeray wrote about the class system in England in the early 19th century with scathing wit and love her or hate her, Becky Sharp is one of the most memorable characters in English literature. I definitely give this book a thumbs up.

Origins of an Antiheroine

This book has been on my list for a long, long time and now that I've read it I am not disappointed.

Delightful

A delightful book from beginning to end. Great narration transports us to the tongue and cheek world of Vanity Fair

I heard the whole story at last!

This book was forced upon me in high school and I never could get thru it. This reading by John Cast is excellent. He pronounces every word perfectly, whether it is in French, German, Irish, Upper class or lower. It was a joy to listen to the whole story and I will treasure my old school copy of the book now. Highly recommended!

Perfect reading, perfect book

What a wonderful performance of one of one of my all-time favorite books. John Castle brings Thackeray's biting satire to life so thoroughly that I was sad when it was over. If you are at all a fan of Vanity Fair, purchasing this audio book is a wise investment.