Thackeray, William Makepeace - The Works - 1879

Set of 22/24 volumes (2 volumes missing) / Thackeray, William Makepeace. London: Smith Elder § Philadelphia, 1879. In English.
Illustrations in black, both text and plates, in each volume by numerous contemporary artists, including the author, Georges du Maurier, etc.
Binding (period, publisher) in green percaline cloth adorned with blind-stamped motifs, smooth spine decorated with gold tooling, the title of the work and the author's name in gold.
Minor scuffs and general wear with no consequence to the binding; interior with some foxing and handling stains, also of no consequence. A beautiful set of decorative bindings. The two-volume titles are all complete.
Between 400 pp. and 500 pp./volume, 20x14 cm. 15 kg (including packaging).

William Makepeace Thackeray is best known for his satirical works that critique English society, most notably Vanity Fair. He tended to be quite savage in his attacks on society, publishing under various pseudonyms in his youth to avoid personal criticism. He resumed journalism, a field he had explored in the past, and wrote art critiques, short essays, and book reviews. He began writing longer novels and also contributed to the Punch magazine. Later in life his work earned him greater renown and he was regarded as the equal of Charles Dickens.