1849-50 The History of Pendennis. His Fortunes and Misfortunes, His Friends and His Greatest Enemy.

Description

First Edition, Illustrated, Leather Binding

The first edition.

Complete in two volumes.

Bound in half calf with cloth boards. With the half title retained to Volume I.

An elegant copy of William Makepeace Thackeray's satirical bildungsroman novel, featuring his alter-ego Arthur Pendennis.

Illustrated with twenty-three plates and an engraved title page to Volume I, and twenty-two plates and an engraved title page to Volume II. Lacking the plate to face page 370 to Volume II.

Set in 19th century England, 'Pendennis' surrounds the life of a young English gentleman named Arthur Pendennis who leaves his comfortable countryside home to seek his place in London society.

In line with other Thackeray's works, most notably Vanity Fair, Pendennis offers an insightful and satiric picture of human character and aristocratic society. The characters include the snobbish social hanger-on Major Pendennis and the tipsy Captain Costigan. Miss Amory and Sir Francis Clavering are somewhat reminiscent of Becky Sharp and Sir Pitt from Vanity Fair.