Publisher's Synopsis
The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon Esquire Written by Himself and Catherine a Story by Thackeray is a classic novel written by William Makepeace Thackeray. The book is a fictional autobiography of the eponymous character, Barry Lyndon, who is a rogue and a scoundrel. The novel follows his rise from a humble Irish background to becoming a wealthy and successful gentleman in England. Barry Lyndon is a complex character, and the novel explores his motivations, his relationships, and his flaws. The book is also accompanied by a short story, Catherine, which is a tragic tale of love and betrayal. Thackeray's writing is witty, insightful, and engaging, and the book is a masterful exploration of human nature and the complexities of social status. The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon Esquire Written by Himself and Catherine a Story by Thackeray is a must-read for anyone interested in classic literature and the human condition.1902. With illustrations by the author. Vanity Fair is Thackeray's masterpiece, but he also showed great skill in writing historical fiction with fine attention to period manners and customs and a dispassionate sympathy for his character's actions. The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon, Thackeray's first substantial work, concerns the life and times of the title character and narrator, a roguish Irishman. Born Redmond Barry, he leaves his homeland after shooting a man in a duel. He becomes a soldier of fortune and later works as a professional gambler. Remade as a man of fashion, he courts a wealthy widow, marries her, and assumes her aristocratic name of Lyndon. He mistreats both her and her son and spends and gambles away her money, but eventually she extricates herself from the alliance. By the novel's end he is in jail, cared for by his mother. Also contained in this volume is Catherine: A Story, Thackeray's first novel. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.