Harvard’s Houghton Library celebrates William Makepeace Thackeray

Houghton Library celebrates William Makepeace Thackeray.

Thackeray’s self-portrait from an 1848 edition of <i>Vanity Fair</i>
An 1848 collection of his <i>Punch</i> series on “The Snobs of England”
Sketches from “Adventures of a French Count”

In his time (1811-1863), Thackeray ranked second only to Charles Dickens in the English literary pantheon. Now he is mostly ignored except as the author of the novel Vanity Fair, in which he skewered large segments of British society with cheerful humor and hatched an agreeably roguish heroine, Becky Sharp. In an attempt to reintroduce readers to a once-celebrated writer, the Houghton Library mounted an exhibition, on the bicentennial of Thackeray’s birth, displaying material from its rich collection of his books, manuscripts, correspondence, and drawings, together with items lent by other collectors. It was organized chiefly by Heather Cole, assistant curator of modern books and manuscripts, and it remains online (https://hcl.harvard.edu/libraries/houghton/exhibits/thackeray). The exhibition provides insight into Thackeray the devoted son, affectionate father, and loyal friend, not to mention the gourmandizer, of whom it was said that his main activity apart from writing was “guttling and gorging.” (He was incurably addicted to spicy peppers.)

Shown here are a self-portrait from an 1848 edition of Vanity Fair, and (left) the 53 installments of his series “The Snobs of England,” in Punch, in a collected edition of 1848. He lampooned all sorts, including “literary snobs,” “dining-out snobs,” and “party-giving snobs.” Below, to entertain the children of a friend, Thackeray filled an album with the humorous “Adventures of a French Count.” The count eventually escapes the executioner.

From Harvard Yard comes more Thackeray: The 1876 Gate, just by the freshman dorm Holworthy Hall, bears a snippet of his verse. Look up and read: “In memory of dear old times.” The gate was given by the class of 1876 on their twenty-fifth reunion in 1901. The quotation is from Thackeray’s “The Ballad of the Bouillabaisse,” a poem about food, drink, and fellowship, in which the poet returns to a Parisian inn to sample the famous fish stew that sustained him and his fellows in their youth—along with a few glasses of good burgundy:

I drink it as the Fates ordain it.
Come, fill it and have done with
 rhymes;
Fill up the lonely glass and drain it
In memory of dear old times.

Read more articles by Christopher Reed

You might also like

Shakespeare’s Greatest Rival

Without Christopher Marlowe, there might not have been a Bard.

Bringing Korean Stories to Life

Composer Julia Riew writes the musicals she needed to see.

Being Undocumented in America

Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s writing aims to challenge assumptions. 

Most popular

Two Years of Doxxing at Harvard

What happens when students are publicly named and shamed for their views?

A New Narrative of Civil Rights

Political philosopher Brandon Terry’s vision of racial progress

Do Mitochondria Hold the Power to Heal?

From Alzheimer’s to cancer, this tiny organelle might expand treatment options. 

Explore More From Current Issue

Illustrated world map showing people connected across countries with icons for ideas, research, and communication.

Why Harvard Needs International Students

An ed school professor on why global challenges demand global experiences

John Goldberg

Harvard in the News

University layoffs, professors in court, and a new Law School dean

Colorful illustration of woman multitasking with laptop, baby bottle, toy, and checklist.

Motherhood and Ambition in a Pronatalist World

Gen Z is confronting the age-old question of balance—with a new twist.