Season 1 Episode 16

Vanity Fair is a classic novel written by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847-1848 as a serial. The book is a satirical social commentary on the early 19th-century English society, filled with memorable characters and sharp wit. Thackeray's work has endured the test of time, remaining a beloved classic of English literature.

The plot of "Vanity Fair" revolves around two main characters, Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, who are both young women striving to secure their place in society. Becky, an ambitious and cunning social climber, stops at nothing to elevate her status, while Amelia is a virtuous and sentimental woman whose naivety and loyalty are tested. The story follows their intertwining lives and their encounters with a wide range of colorful characters, including the charismatic but morally flawed Captain Rawdon Crawley and the pompous and self-righteous Sir Pitt Crawley.

Thackeray's novel explores themes of wealth, class, and morality in a society where appearances and social status hold significant sway. Through his biting satire and keen observations, he exposes the hypocrisy and follies of the upper class, while also examining the consequences of individual choices and the pursuit of personal happiness.

In 1939, "Vanity Fair" was adapted into a radio play as part of "The Campbell Playhouse," a popular radio program hosted by Orson Welles. The radio presentation brought Thackeray's intricate narrative to life, allowing listeners to immerse themselves in the world of the novel through the power of sound and voice acting. The adaptation aimed to capture the essence of the book's satirical tone, highlighting the humor and social critiques that make "Vanity Fair" a literary gem. The radio presentation of "Vanity Fair" on "The Campbell Playhouse" introduced the story to a new audience and further solidified its enduring legacy as a classic work of literature.

Books in Sound is a free podcast series that presents a collection of hundreds of the world’s greatest books through the magic of the performing arts.

Different from audiobooks: Instead of having a single narrator read an audiobook, these performances have a full cast of actors, suitable background music, and special effects that help define the drama.

Most presentations are from old time radio theater broadcasts that have been remastered to remove most of the hissing, clicking and volume fluctuations. Many of the presentations are from the 1930's and 1940's, so a significant amount of work went into the remastering process.

Most presentations are about one hour, some are multiple hours, and some are abbreviated presentation that last about half an hour, making this series wonderful for bedtime stories, self-improvement by learning about literature, or simply as a very imaginative form of entertainment.

The episodes are not sequential, but we do recommend listening to the complete collection starting with the first episode so that you can grow and benefit from the wide assortment of styles and content.

For more information visit https://www.booksinsound.com