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.

Circle of life

Where does Vanity Fair rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Ranks in middle of all the books to which I've heard.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Vanity Fair?

Can't think of any particularly memorable moment. Maybe that is why this book came in at middle.

Have you listened to any of John Castle’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

First time listening to John Castle. Will look for more of his work.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Thought perspective of civilians interesting when battle of Waterloo was taking place. Can't say any particular point "moved" me.

Any additional comments?

Often wondered what the plot was leading to. Then reminded myself it was very reflective of life's patterns...not always an end in sight. Pettiness consumes too much of our attention and energy.

Truly a story without a hero.

Would you listen to Vanity Fair again? Why?

Yes. To concentrate on the characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Vanity Fair?

When I realized that there wasn't a constant hero and differences in each of the characters.

What does John Castle bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He brings the characters to life.

Any additional comments?

A great book.

Wow, wow, wow!!!

Had me on edge the entire time!! Wonderful book!!! I love the classics!! Becky is off the hook!

Wonderful Story!

I can’t think why I had not read this book before now. I think I remember starting it in the print version and not getting past the first chapter or two . Listening to it is a gift. It’s a long book and it took several weeks of of intermittent listening but well worth it!

The Great Granddaddy of Reality TV

Lest we ever put airs on the 19th Century as somehow more refined than our own, Vanity Fair proves that there's been an audience for unredeemable characters for centuries. Thackeray's voice both condemns the misadventures of the often immoral upper class while also indulging in it's stories with gossipy relish. A long and fanciful take worthy of click bait today. It does vere off into fanciful prose that describe the Society of the time in such a way that can be frustrating for a modern listener used to books more plot driven than driven by characters of questionable character. Even when they are awful, you do develop an attachment to them, for no one is wholy bad or wholy good, but most are in-between, even the worst can do good and the good be awful. The performance is nuanced enough to aid in understanding the antiquated writing style, and does a good job of engaging the listener with different character voices that aren't silly or grating. You get the sense that Thackeray is reading his own novel or at least dishing up the most delightful gossip with you as you both share a glass of port in a grand drawing room of old.

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.