Vanity Fair The Dueling Authors

A Tale of Two Writers

There is an unspoken truth in the world of literature that authors are the gods of their creations, revered and respected for their imaginations that bring life to the written word. But what happens when two creative minds clash, when the world of literature becomes a battleground for two feuding authors? This is the story of Vanity Fair's dueling authors.

The Contenders

William Makepeace Thackeray was a renowned English novelist and the author of Vanity Fair, a novel that chronicled the lives of society's upper class during the Napoleonic Wars. Known for his wit and satire, Thackeray was a prolific writer whose works were highly regarded in literary circles and widely read by the public.

George Bernard Shaw, on the other hand, was a playwright, critic, and political activist who rose to fame in the late 19th and early 20th century. He is perhaps best known for his play, Pygmalion, which was later adapted into the popular musical, My Fair Lady. Shaw was a staunch opponent of the Victorian era's social norms and championed socialism and women's rights.

The Battle

The feud between Thackeray and Shaw began in 1861, when Shaw wrote a review of Thackeray's novel, The Four Georges, for a Dublin magazine. In the review, Shaw criticized Thackeray's style and described his novels as \"hollow\" and \"unconvincing.\"

Thackeray was not one to take criticism lightly, and he retaliated by ridiculing Shaw's plays in his own literary journal, The Cornhill Magazine. Specifically, Thackeray referred to Pygmalion as a \"potty little play\" and accused Shaw of having a \"tendency toward impudence.\"

The clash of these two literary giants continued throughout their lives, with each taking jabs at the other in their respective works. But despite the animosity between them, both Thackeray and Shaw left lasting legacies in the world of literature and continue to inspire and influence writers to this day.

The Legacy

Thackeray is remembered for his biting wit and clever satire, as well as his keen observations of society and its upper class. His work, Vanity Fair, remains a classic in English literature and continues to be widely read and studied in universities across the globe.

Shaw, for his part, is remembered as a champion of social justice and equality. His plays, which often challenged the social norms of his time, served as a catalyst for change and continue to inspire political and social activists today.

In the end, the feud between Thackeray and Shaw was a clash of two literary titans who each left an indelible mark on the world they inhabited. It is a reminder that even the most creative minds can sometimes clash, but that a little rivalry can also lead to great works of art.