William Makepeace Thackeray

William Makepeace Thackeray (July 18, 1811 – December 24, 1863) was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a portrait of middle-class English society.

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He was born in Calcutta, India, where his father worked for the British East India Company. In 1817 his family returned to England, where he was educated at the Charterhouse School and Trinity College, Cambridge.

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Thackeray was prolific and wrote under a number of amusing pseudonyms: "Charles James Yellowplush, a footman"; "Michael Angelo Titmarsh"; and "George Savage Fitz-Boodle". In addition, he worked as a journalist, traveling widely and meeting many celebrities of his time, including Goethe. Charlotte Bront? was one of his admirers and dedicated to him the second edition of Jane Eyre.

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Thackeray's connection with Royal Tunbridge Wells is of special interest and value from the fact that The Wells figures largely in his novel "The Virginians"; and in the "Roundabout Papers", one of his sketches, entitled "Tonbridge Toys," describes his visits here and his early and later impressions of the place. The house, 'Rock Villa,' at which he stayed in 1860 still stands and preserves its original features. It bears a plaque denoting his visit there and is known as Thackeray's house, with a brass plate to that effect on its gatepost.

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His first visit as a boy was in 1823, when he travelled there by coach from London, arriving at a small house on the Common where his parents were staying for a time. When he paid his final visit to The Wells in 1860, he was accompanied by his daughter, Lady Ritchie. He was then Editor of The Cornhill Magazine and wrote "Tonbridge Toys" and "de Gwentive" at Rock Villa. It has also been stated that a part, if not all, of "The Virginians" was written here.

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July 18: July 18 is the 199th day (200th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 166 days remaining....

1811: 1811 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar)....

1863: 1863 is a common year starting on Thursday....

William Makepeace Thackeray related Images and Photos (experimental)

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