# Vanity Fair — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray.

- [Before the Curtain](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/before-the-curtain.md): The author, as the manager of a performance, introduces Vanity Fair as a bustling, noisy, and morally ambiguous place filled with eating, drinking, love, cheating, and entertainment. He reflects on the melancholy beneath
- [I: Chiswick Mall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/i-chiswick-mall.md): The chapter opens at Miss Pinkerton's academy for young ladies on Chiswick Mall, where Amelia Sedley is preparing to depart after six years. Her friend Becky Sharp, a poor articled pupil, is also leaving to become a gove
- [In Which Miss Sharp and Miss Sedley Prepare to Open the Campaign](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/ii-in-which-miss-sharp-and-miss-sedley-prepare-to-open-the-campaign.md): Rebecca Sharp celebrates her departure from Miss Pinkerton's Academy by throwing a dictionary into the garden, expressing her hatred for the school and its headmistress. She confides in Amelia Sedley about her harsh trea
- [Rebecca Is in Presence of the Enemy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/iii-rebecca-is-in-presence-of-the-enemy.md): Rebecca Sharp meets Joseph Sedley, Amelia's wealthy but shy brother, and immediately sets her sights on him as a potential husband. Despite Joseph's awkwardness and vanity, Rebecca skillfully flatters him and begins her 
- [The Green Silk Purse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/iv-the-green-silk-purse.md): Rebecca Sharp continues to charm the Sedley household, winning over Mrs. Sedley, the servants, and even Mr. Sedley with her gratitude and humility. Joseph Sedley, still recovering from his earlier panic, returns and is d

> 63 more chapter companions — [open a free preview](https://www.betterreads.dev/reader?bookId=vanity_fair_1202kb&preview=1) to unlock the rest.

- [Dobbin of Ours](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/v-dobbin-of-ours.md)
- [Vauxhall](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/vi-vauxhall.md)
- [Crawley of Queen’s Crawley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/vii-crawley-of-queen-s-crawley.md)
- [Private and Confidential](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/viii-private-and-confidential.md)
- [IX: Family Portraits](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/ix-family-portraits.md)
- [X: Miss Sharp Begins to Make Friends](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/x-miss-sharp-begins-to-make-friends.md)
- [XI: Arcadian Simplicity](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xi-arcadian-simplicity.md)
- [XII: Quite a Sentimental Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xii-quite-a-sentimental-chapter.md)
- [XIII: Sentimental and Otherwise](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xiii-sentimental-and-otherwise.md)
- [Miss Crawley at Home](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xiv-miss-crawley-at-home.md)
- [XV: In Which Rebecca's Husband Appears for a Short Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xv-in-which-rebecca-s-husband-appears-for-a-short-time.md)
- [Chapter XVI: The Letter on the Pincushion](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xvi-the-letter-on-the-pincushion.md)
- [How Captain Dobbin Bought a Piano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xvii-how-captain-dobbin-bought-a-piano.md)
- [Who Played on the Piano Captain Dobbin Bought](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xviii-who-played-on-the-piano-captain-dobbin-bought.md)
- [Miss Crawley at Nurse](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xix-miss-crawley-at-nurse.md)
- [In Which Captain Dobbin Acts as the Messenger of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xx-in-which-captain-dobbin-acts-as-the-messenger-of-hymen.md)
- [A Quarrel About an Heiress](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxi-a-quarrel-about-an-heiress.md)
- [A Marriage and Part of a Honeymoon](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxii-a-marriage-and-part-of-a-honeymoon.md)
- [Captain Dobbin Proceeds on His Canvass](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxiii-captain-dobbin-proceeds-on-his-canvass.md)
- [In Which Mr. Osborne Takes Down the Family Bible](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxiv-in-which-mr-osborne-takes-down-the-family-bible.md)
- [In Which All the Principal Personages Think Fit to Leave Brighton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxv-in-which-all-the-principal-personages-think-fit-to-leave-brighton.md)
- [Between London and Chatham](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxvi-between-london-and-chatham.md)
- [In Which Amelia Joins Her Regiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxvii-in-which-amelia-joins-her-regiment.md)
- [In Which Amelia Invades the Low Countries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxviii-in-which-amelia-invades-the-low-countries.md)
- [Brussels](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxix-brussels.md)
- [The Girl I Left Behind Me](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxx-the-girl-i-left-behind-me.md)
- [In Which Jos Sedley Takes Care of His Sister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxi-in-which-jos-sedley-takes-care-of-his-sister.md)
- [In Which Jos Takes Flight, and the War Is Brought to a Close](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxii-in-which-jos-takes-flight-and-the-war-is-brought-to-a-close.md)
- [In Which Miss Crawley’s Relations Are Very Anxious About Her](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiii-in-which-miss-crawley-s-relations-are-very-anxious-about-her.md)
- [James Crawley's Pipe Is Put Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxiv-james-crawley-s-pipe-is-put-out.md)
- [Widow and Mother](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxv-widow-and-mother.md)
- [How to Live Well on Nothing a Year](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxvi-how-to-live-well-on-nothing-a-year.md)
- [The Subject Continued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxvii-the-subject-continued.md)
- [A Family in a Very Small Way](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxviii-a-family-in-a-very-small-way.md)
- [A Cynical Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xxxix-a-cynical-chapter.md)
- [XL: In Which Becky Is Recognized by the Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xl-in-which-becky-is-recognized-by-the-family.md)
- [In Which Becky Revisits the Halls of Her Ancestors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xli-in-which-becky-revisits-the-halls-of-her-ancestors.md)
- [XLII: Which Treats of the Osborne Family](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlii-which-treats-of-the-osborne-family.md)
- [In Which the Reader Has to Double the Cape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xliii-in-which-the-reader-has-to-double-the-cape.md)
- [XLIV: A Roundabout Chapter Between London and Hampshire](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xliv-a-roundabout-chapter-between-london-and-hampshire.md)
- [Between Hampshire and London](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlv-between-hampshire-and-london.md)
- [Struggles and Trials](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlvi-struggles-and-trials.md)
- [Gaunt House](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlvii-gaunt-house.md)
- [In Which the Reader Is Introduced to the Very Best of Company](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlviii-in-which-the-reader-is-introduced-to-the-very-best-of-company.md)
- [In Which We Enjoy Three Courses and a Dessert](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/xlix-in-which-we-enjoy-three-courses-and-a-dessert.md)
- [Contains a Vulgar Incident](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/l-contains-a-vulgar-incident.md)
- [LI: In Which a Charade Is Acted Which May or May Not Puzzle the Reader](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/li-in-which-a-charade-is-acted-which-may-or-may-not-puzzle-the-reader.md)
- [In Which Lord Steyne Shows Himself in a Most Amiable Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lii-in-which-lord-steyne-shows-himself-in-a-most-amiable-light.md)
- [A Rescue and a Catastrophe](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/liii-a-rescue-and-a-catastrophe.md)
- [Sunday After the Battle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/liv-sunday-after-the-battle.md)
- [In Which the Same Subject Is Pursued](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lv-in-which-the-same-subject-is-pursued.md)
- [Georgy Is Made a Gentleman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lvi-georgy-is-made-a-gentleman.md)
- [Eothen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lvii-eothen.md)
- [LVIII: Our Friend the Major](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lviii-our-friend-the-major.md)
- [The Old Piano](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lix-the-old-piano.md)
- [Returns to the Genteel World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lx-returns-to-the-genteel-world.md)
- [In Which Two Lights Are Put Out](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxi-in-which-two-lights-are-put-out.md)
- [LXII: Am Rhein](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxii-am-rhein.md)
- [In Which We Meet an Old Acquaintance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxiii-in-which-we-meet-an-old-acquaintance.md)
- [A Vagabond Chapter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxiv-a-vagabond-chapter.md)
- [Full of Business and Pleasure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxv-full-of-business-and-pleasure.md)
- [Amantium Irae](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxvi-amantium-irae.md)
- [LXVII: Which Contains Births, Marriages, and Deaths](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters/lxvii-which-contains-births-marriages-and-deaths.md)

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/vanity_fair_se/chapters