| CHAPTER I. | |
| PAGE | |
| Voyage from India—Touching at St. Helena—School days at the Charterhouse—EarlyReminiscences—Sketches in School Books—BoyishScribblings—Favourite Fictions—Youthful Caricatures—Souvenirs ofthe Play | [1] |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Early Favourites—The 'Castle of Otranto'—Rollin's 'Ancient History' | [18] |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Thackeray's last visit to the Charterhouse—College days—Pendennis atCambridge—Sketches of Universities—Sporting subjects—Etchings atCambridge—Pencillings in old authors—Pictorial Puns—The 'Snob,'a Literary and Scientific Journal—'Timbuctoo,' a Prize Poem | [47] |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Early Favourites—Fielding's 'Joseph Andrews'—Imitators of Fielding—The'Adventures of Captain Greenland'—'Jack Connor'—'Chrysal;or, the Adventures of a Guinea' | [71] |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| Continental Rambles—A Stolen Trip to Paris—Residence at Weimar—Contributionsto Albums—Burlesque State—German Sketches andStudies—The Weimar Theatre—Goethe—Souvenirs of the Saxon city—'Journalkept during a Visit to Germany' | [89] |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| Thackeray's Predilections for Art—A Student in Paris—First Steps inthe Career—An Art Critic—Introduction to Marvy's 'English LandscapePainters'—Early Connection with Literature—Michael AngeloTitmarsh, a contributor to 'Fraser's Magazine'—French Caricatureunder Louis Philippe—Political Satires—A Young Artist's life in Paris—GrowingSympathy with Literature | [114] |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| 'Elizabeth Brownrigge: a Tale,' 1832—'Comic Magazine,' 1832-4—'NationalStandard and Literary Representative,' 1833-4—'Flore etZéphyr, Ballet Mythologique,' 1836—On the Staff of 'Fraser's Magazine'—EarlyConnection with Maginn and his Colleagues—The MacliseCartoon of the Fraserians—Thackeray's Noms de Plume—CharlesYellowplush as a Reviewer—Skelton and his 'Anatomy of Conduct'—Thackeray'sProposal to Dickens to illustrate his Novels—GradualGrowth of Thackeray's Notoriety—His Genial Admiration for 'Boz'—ChristmasBooks and Dickens's 'Christmas Carol'—Return to Paris—Executionof Fieschi and Lacénaire—Daily Newspaper Venture—The'Constitutional' and 'Public Ledger'—Thackeray as Paris Correspondent—DyingSpeech of the 'Constitutional'—Thackeray's Marriage—IncreasedApplication to Literature—The 'Shabby Genteel Story'—Thackeray'sArticle in the 'Westminster' on George Cruikshank—FirstCollected Writings—The 'Paris Sketch-Book'—Dedication to M. Aretz—'ComicTales and Sketches,' with Thackeray's original Illustrations—The'Yellowplush Papers'—The 'Second Funeral of Napoleon,'with the 'Chronicles of the Drum'—The 'History of Samuel Titmarshand the great Hoggarty Diamond'—'Fitzboodle's Confessions'—The'Irish Sketch-Book,' with the Author's Illustrations—The 'Luck ofBarry Lyndon'—Contributions to the 'Examiner'—Miscellanies—'CarmenLilliense'—'Notes on a Journey from Cornhill to GrandCairo,' with the Author's Illustrations—Interest excited in Titmarsh—Foundationof 'Punch'—Thackeray's Contributions—His comic Designs—The'Fat Contributor'—'Jeames's Diary' | [124] |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Increasing reputation—Later writings in 'Fraser'—'Mrs. Perkins's Ball,'with Thackeray's Illustrations—Early Vicissitudes of 'Pencil Sketchesof English Society'—Thackeray's connection with the Temple—Appearanceof 'Vanity Fair,' with the Author's original Illustrations—Appreciativenotice in the 'Edinburgh Review'—The impression produced—'OurStreet,' with Titmarsh's Pencillings of some of its Inhabitants—TheHistory of Pendennis,' illustrated by the Author—'Dr.Birch and his Young Friends,' with illustrations by M. A. Titmarsh—'Rebeccaand Rowena'—The Dignity of Literature and the 'Examiner'and 'Morning Chronicle' newspapers—Sensitiveness to Hostile Criticism—The'Kickleburys on the Rhine,' with illustrations by M. A.Titmarsh—Adverse bias of the 'Times' newspaper—Thackeray's reply—An'Essay on Thunder and Small Beer' | [161] |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Commencement of the Series of Early Essayists—Thackeray as a Lecturer—The'English Humourists of the Eighteenth Century'—CharlotteBrontë at Thackeray's Readings—The Lectures repeated in Edinburgh—Aninvitation to visit America—Transatlantic popularity—Specialsuccess attending the reception of the 'English Humourists' in theStates—'Week-day Preachers'—Enthusiastic Farewell—Appleton'sNew York edition of Thackeray's Works; the Author's introduction,and remarks on International Copyright—Thackeray's departure—Cordialimpression bequeathed to America—The 'History of HenryEsmonde, a story of Queen Anne's Reign'—The writers of the AugustanEra—The 'Newcomes'—An allusion to George Washingtonmisunderstood—A second visit to America—Lectures on the 'FourGeorges'—The series repeated at home—Scotch sympathy—Thackerayproposed as a candidate to represent Oxford in Parliament—His liberalviews and impartiality | [171] |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| Curious Authors from Thackeray's Library, indicating the course of hisReadings—Early Essayists illustrated with the Humourist's Pencillings—BishopEarle's 'Microcosmography; a piece of the World Characterised,'1628—An 'Essay in Defence of the Female Sex,' 1697—Thackeray'sInterest in Works on the Spiritual World—'Flagellum Dæmonum,et Fustis Dæmonum. Auctore R. P. F. Hieronymo Mengo,' 1727—'LaMagie et L'Astrologie,' par L. F. Alfred Maury—'Magic, Witchcraft,Animal Magnetism, Hypnotism, and Electro Biology,' by JamesBaird, 1852 | [186] |
| CHAPTER XI. ENGLISH ESSAYISTS OF THE GEORGIAN ERA. | |
| Early Essayists whose Writings have furnished Thackeray with the Accessoriesof Portions of his Novels and Lectures—Works from theNovelist's Library, elucidating his Course of Reading for the Preparationof his 'Lectures'—'Henry Esmond,' 'The Virginians,' &c.—CharacteristicPassages from the Lucubrations of the Essayists of theAugustan Era illustrated with original Marginal Sketches, suggested bythe Text, by Thackeray's hand—The 'Tatler'—Its History and Influence—Reformsintroduced by the purer Style of the Essayists—TheLiterature of Queen Anne's Reign—Thackeray's Love for the Writingsof the Period—His Gift of reproducing their masterly and simple styleof Composition; their Irony, and playful Humour—Extracts fromnotable Essays; illustrated with original Pencillings from the Series ofthe 'Tatler,' 1709 | [221] |
| CHAPTER XII. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THEEARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. | |
| Extracts of Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,'from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with Original Marginal Sketchesby the Author's hand—The Series of The 'Guardian,' 1713—Introduction—Steele'sProgramme—Authors who contributed to the 'Guardian'—Paragraphsand Pencillings | [275] |
| CHAPTER XIII. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THEEARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. | |
| Characteristic passages from the Works of Humorous Writers of the 'Eraof the Georges,' from Thackeray's Library, illustrated with originalMarginal Sketches by the Author's hand—The 'Humourist,' 1724—Extractsand Pencillings | [299] |
| CHAPTER XIV. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THEEARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. | |
| Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' fromThackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand, with MarginalSketches suggested by the Text—The 'World,' 1753—Introduction—ItsDifference from the Earlier Essays—Distinguished Authors whocontributed to the 'World'—Paragraphs and Pencillings | [318] |
| CHAPTER XV. THACKERAY'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE WRITINGS OF THESATIRICAL ESSAYISTS—Continued. | |
| Characteristic Passages from the compositions of the 'Early Humourists,'from Thackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with originalMarginal Sketches suggested by the Text—The 'Connoisseur,'1754—Introduction—Review of Contributors—Paragraphs and Pencillings | [357] |
| CHAPTER XVI. THACKERAY'S RESEARCHES AMONGST THE WRITINGS OF THEEARLY ESSAYISTS—Continued. | |
| Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Humourists,' from Thackeray'sLibrary; illustrated by the Author's hand with Marginal Sketchessuggested by the Text—The 'Rambler,' 1749-50—Introduction—ItsAuthor, Dr. Johnson—Paragraphs and Pencillings | [370] |
| CHAPTER XVII. THACKERAY'S FAMILIARITY WITH THE WRITINGS OF THESATIRICAL ESSAYISTS—Continued. | |
| Characteristic Passages from the Works of the 'Early Humourists,' fromThackeray's Library, illustrated by the Author's hand with originalMarginal Sketches suggested by the Text—The 'Mirror,' Edinburgh,1779-80—Introduction—The Society in which the 'Mirror,' and'Lounger' originated—Notice of Contributors—Paragraphs and Pencillings | [408] |
| CHAPTER XVIII. | |
| Thackeray as an Illustrator—The 'North British Review' on Thackeray—Illustrationsto 'Men of Character'—'The Whitey-brown PaperMagazine'—'Comic Tales,' illustrated by Thackeray—Allusions toCaricature Drawing found throughout his writings—Skits on Fashion—Titmarshon 'Men and Clothes'—Bohemianism in youth—Hatred ofConventionality—Sketches of Contemporary Habits and Manners—ImaginativeIllustrations to Romances—Skill in Ludicrous Parody—Burlesqueof the 'Official Handbook of Court and State' | [436] |
| CHAPTER XIX. | |
| Thackeray as a Traveller—Journey in Youth from India to England—LittleTravels at Home—Sojourn in Germany—French Trips—Residencein Paris—Studies in Rome—Sketches and Scribblings in Guide-Books—LittleTours and Wayside Studies—Brussels—Ghent and theBéguines—Bruges—Croquis in Murray's 'Handbooks to the Continent'—Upthe Rhine—'From Cornhill to Grand Cairo'—Journeys toAmerica—Switzerland—'A Leaf out of a Sketch-Book'—The Grisons—Verona—'RoundaboutJourneys'—Belgium and Holland | [465] |
| CHAPTER XX. | |
| Commencement of the 'Cornhill Magazine'—'Roundabout Papers'—'Lovelthe Widower'—The 'Adventures of Philip on his Way throughthe World'—Lectures on the 'Four Georges'—Editorial Penalties—The'Thorn in the Cushion'—Harass from disappointed Contributors—VexatiousCorrespondents—Withdrawal from the arduous post of Editor—Buildingof Thackeray's House in Kensington Palace Gardens—Christmas1863—Death of the great Novelist—The unfinished Work—Circumstancesof the Author's last Illness—His Death | [488] |
THACKERAYANA.
CHAPTER I.
Voyage from India—Touching at St. Helena—School days at the Charterhouse—Early Reminiscences—Sketches in School Books—Boyish Scribblings—Favourite Fictions—Youthful Caricatures—Souvenirs of the Play.
View of Life as seen through the Charterhouse Gates
The fondness of Thackeray for lingering amidst the scenes of a boy's daily life in a public grammar school, has generally been attributed to his early education at the Charterhouse, that celebrated monastic-looking establishment in the neighbourhood of Smithfield, which he scarcely disguised from his readers as the original of the familiar 'Greyfriars' of his works of fiction. Most of our novelists have given us in various forms their school reminiscences; but none have produced them so frequently, or dwelt upon them with such manifest bias towards the subject, as the author of 'Vanity Fair,' 'The Newcomes,' and 'The Adventures of Philip.' It is pleasing to think that this habit, which Thackeray was well aware had been frequently censured by his critics as carried to excess, was, like his partiality for the times of Queen Anne and the Georges, in some degree due to the traditional reverence of his family for the memory of their great-grandfather, Dr. Thomas Thackeray, the well-remembered head-master of Harrow.
An Exile