The History of Pendennis

Abstract

During his career as a writer before the appearance of Vanity Fair, Thackeray had published 568 pieces as a contributor to newspapers and periodicals—works that included parodies, burlesques, extravaganzas, political reports, art criticism, book reviews, tales, comic verses, and installments of a full-length novel.¹ In addition he had published 7 works as separate imprints, most of them containing new material ranging from pictorial caricature and news reporting to travel books reflecting his experiences in Ireland and on a journey to the Near East. During the serial appearance of Vanity Fair on 19 occasions between January 1847 and July 1848, Thackeray also wrote and published 88 pieces for magazines and periodicals, besides drawing and publishing 106 comic illustrations. What was he to do after the appearance of the masterpiece that had established him as one of England’s two leading novelists? Clearly, more of the same: continuing the incredibly energetic, bubbling flow of usually comic, occasionally more somber journalism, and of course beginning another ambitious serial novel.