William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 – 1863) was an English novelist and illustrator best known for Vanity Fair (1847 – 1848), a satirical masterpiece that portrays 19th-century British society. His sharp wit and keen social critique made him one of the most prominent writers of the Victorian era.
Born in Calcutta, British India, Thackeray was sent to England after his father’s death in 1815. He attended Charterhouse School, which he later satirized as "Slaughterhouse", and briefly studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, before leaving to travel in Europe. Squandering much of his inheritance through gambling and failed ventures, he turned to journalism, writing for Fraser’s Magazine, The Times, and Punch. His satirical sketches, such as The Yellowplush Papers, established his reputation.
Thackeray gained fame with Vanity Fair, a novel known for its anti-heroine Becky Sharp and its scathing portrayal of social ambition. His later works, including Pendennis and The Newcomes, explored themes of personal growth and societal hypocrisy. In 1857, he ran unsuccessfully for Parliament and later edited Cornhill Magazine.
Plagued by health issues exacerbated by his lifestyle, Thackeray died of a stroke in 1863. Though he was once ranked alongside Charles Dickens, his legacy endures primarily through Vanity Fair, a novel that remains a landmark of literary satire.