William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist, satirist, and illustrator, best known for his keen social commentary and his novel Vanity Fair. His works often explored themes of ambition, hypocrisy, and the moral failings of British society, making him one of the most significant literary figures of the Victorian era. Born in Calcutta, British India, he was sent to England for his education after his father's death. He attended Charterhouse School and Trinity College, Cambridge, but left without a degree. After losing much of his inheritance due to gambling and bad investments, Thackeray turned to writing for a living, contributing to periodicals such as Fraser's Magazine and Punch. His wife suffered from mental illness, and he became a de facto widower. Thackeray gained fame with Vanity Fair and produced several other notable works. He died from a stroke at the age of fifty-two.