The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh and The Irish Sketch Book by William Makepeace Thackeray, circa 1880s.

Written and illustrated by William Makepeace Thackeray. Circa 1880 - 1892 based on publisher's history. Belford, Clarke, & Co. New York, Chicago, San Francisco.

The Paris Sketchbook of Mr. Titmarsh
An Invasion of France

"About twelve o'clock, just as the bell of the packet is tolling a farewell to London Bridge, and warning off the blackguard boys with the newspapers, who have been shoving Times, Herald, Penny Paul-Pry, Penny Satirist, Flare-up, and other abominations into your face - just as the bell has tolled, and the Jews, strangers, people-taking-leave-of-their-families, and blackguard boys aforesaid, are making a rush for the narrow plank which conducts from the paddle-box of the "Emerald" steamboat unto the quay - you perceive, staggering down Thames Street, those two hackney-coaches, for the arrival of which have been praying, trembling, hoping, despairing, swearing - sw - I beg your pardon, I believe the word is not used in polite company - and transpiring, for the last half-hour. Yes, at last, the two coaches draw near, and from thence an awful number of trunks, children, carpet-bags, nursery-maids, hat-boxes, bandboxes, desks, cloaks, and an affectionate wife, are discharged onto the quay.

"Elizabeth, take care of Miss Jane," screams that worthy woman, who has been for a fortnight employed in getting this tremendous body of troops and baggage into marching order."

"The Paris Sketchbook of Mr. Titmarsh" is a witty, insightful travelogue offering a glimpse into French society shortly after the Napoleonic era from an Englishman's perspective, and for which we can thank Thackeray's coinage of the word "snob."

"The Irish Sketchbook" takes us to Ireland in the early 1840s. Thackeray begins in Dublin and ventures out into the country, engaging in activities like stag hunting and attending horse races in Killarney. It's both travelogue and social commentary on Ireland before the Great Famine, capturing the contrasts between beauty and poverty.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811 - 1863) was an English novelist and satirist best known for his novel "Vanity Fair," a sharp and spirited portrait of British society. Thackeray spent his childhood in British India, and was sent to England after his father's death, where he attended Charterhouse School and Trinity College, Cambridge, though he left without a degree. His early adult life was riddled with financial woes, having squandered his inheritance on gambling and unsuccessful ventures. However, Thackeray found his calling in journalism and literature, contributing to magazines such as Fraser's Magazine and Punch. Personal tragedy struck when his wife, Isabella, succumbed to mental illness, leaving him to care for their three daughters alone. Despite these challenges, Thackeray's literary career flourished with works like "The Luck of Barry Lyndon" and "The History of Henry Esmond," showcasing his talent for satire and keen observation of Victorian society. His legacy as a writer is often compared to that of his contemporary, Charles Dickens. Thackeray's health declined in his later years and he passed away at the age of 52 in London.

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Condition: Good. Lacks dust jacket, as issued. Quarter-bound marbled cover boards with brown leather backstrip and corners: Spine cover is loose and damaged, held on by a previous repair, with lower half of the backstrip missing; binder's tape at front and back fly leaves; light edge wear; corners are bumped. Text block is square and tight, top stained, marbled all edges. Pages are fragile and tanning, and pages 401 - 403 have open tears at the fore edges (torn pieces were saved in the book). Otherwise, pages are complete with illustrations.