Vanity Fair, My Rant - Or, a Vindication of the Rights of People to Read Classics (apol. to Wollstonecraft)

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single person in possession of a good holiday, must be in want of a book.


This was written while staying at Oodnadatta, which was a camping spot rather heavily occupied by mosquitoes, necessitating me to remove myself to the auspices of the caravan to finish my book. The strange language? I finished Vanity Fair - and that got me thinking...

I have just finished, for the third time, Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, published in 1848. It is a rollicking good read. It's subtitle is 'a novel without a hero', because it has a heroine, she is a selfish little "seductress". There is also the wonderful, brave but ungainly Colonel / Major who is steadfastly in love with another character, who does not love him. Does he get his girl?...

(Are you with me so far?)

I admit it is rather long, 945 pages, and I was reading an old edition with gilt edges and fake leather binding (Lifeline booksale $2), Darren called it my Bible, and it indeed does look like one....

My point is - ...and I will get to it.... my point is this:

These old novels are highly under appreciated these days. I urge you to read one - just give it a go. They aren't all insipid love stories (though some of the best are, - love stories that is, not insipid). They don't all have heroines who simper on sofas and wait for men in breaches with glowering good looks to call on them ( Mills and Boon does that). How about Trying "Moll Flanders", about a female thief, and written by Defoe who wrote Gulliver's Travels; or "Vanity Fair" with Becky Sharpe at the helm, wreaking havoc amongst the gentry of Europe and England. Ladies, if you think your credit card is maxed out, you should read how Becky manages to live on less than nothing. It is a lesson in ingeniousness and spectacular lack of moral compass - great!

So please, please; for outrageous behaviour head to Vanity Fair, for romance you can't get past Pride and Prejudice, Emma or North and South; for a bit of spooky mystery read the Mysteries of Udolpho.. Pick up a classic and be transported to a world of visiting cards, balls and a coach and four - all good stuff don't ya know?

End of Rant, Thank you.