Newcomes Kindle Edition

This is my favorite Thackeray novel i have read yet along with the History of Henry Esmond. Reading Pendennis the novel is highly recommended as it contains several of the main characters and is narrated by Arthur Pendennis himself.The philosophical aspects and enjoying the overall story definitely can be enjoyed with out reading the roughly 800 page Pendennis but i do not recommend this.What i love about Thackeray is each of the books i have read have seem to be written in different styles.It almost seems like his works (especially his major works) are meant to be read in order. While there are continuing characters from Esmond there is also constant references to some of the main characters in Vanity Fair mainly Rebecca, Dobbins and more frequently Lord Styne--and in this book we meet his sister, who comically resembles in appearance.I will not give away much of the story other than this is a book for adults and is a serious work. Pendennis was like 50% lighter and had a lot more humor. I was amazed at the difference in tone and was curious as to why Pendennis seemed to be almost overly commercial seemingly to water down the seriousness of his previous 2 novels before it. Remember as satirical and over the top as Vanity Fair was is was super heavy and serious while Esmond was written in Queen Ann style making it a standout just for structural reasons.The recurring characters in The Newcomes from Pendennis are 1. Laura 2. Mr. Warrington 3. mentions of Col Costigan. 4. Arthur Pendennis 5. Major Penndennis. (who narrates as well as stars in it. This story is chock full of Thackerays signature wit and i laughed out loud many times, as i always do no matter how serious the story gets.The Newcomes centers around the class divide sub culture of the time and the rules that govern that sort of social scene. Most importantly the effects it has physically and psychologically of people caught up in it. This is also about the changing of the times in relation to the extravagance of the Gothic or queen Ann days. Thackeray is constantly referring to the rich being holed up in massive Gothic mansions and the creep/desolate feeling especially when out of season. He also mentions how people who live in normal setting when invited to certain mansions can't wait to get out due to the changing of the times.One of the main issue is Clive and Ethel and their relationship.Ethel has been molded from birth to marry a well to do gentlemen thereby propagating the status of the Newcome family who are bankers.Being a banker is a title that by itself does not always mean acclimation into the upper class. It has to be earned and the Newcomes are an example of a family that has earned their respect.The villain character in the story is Barnes Newcome as well as his dowager overseer that dictates how he should represent the family.This story is super relevant to today i that it is also about public hangings as well the weakness of the human condition.(Meaning even the best and most compassionate people are subject to errors as epitomized in the col Newcome character When i say public hangings i do not mean that in a literal sense. I mean what happens when an individual is in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.This story is also about Col Newcome - Clives father- who is one of the main heros of the story--we get to see him appear as a perfect compassionate gentlemen only to fall into traps himself that as important moral and ethical questions that is appropriate more for an advanced philosophy class rather than an English Literature class. I will continue this review later-- as i am strapped for time--