The Luck of Barry Lyndon · Chapter
A Bibliographical Note explained
This chapter provides a bibliographical history of Thackeray's 'Barry Lyndon,' detailing its serial publication in Fraser's Magazine in 1844, its delayed book publication, and the author's own struggles with writing it.
What happens
This chapter provides a bibliographical history of Thackeray's 'Barry Lyndon,' detailing its serial publication in Fraser's Magazine in 1844, its delayed book publication, and the author's own struggles with writing it. It discusses possible real-life inspirations for the protagonist, including Casanova, Sir Charles Hanbury Williams, and most notably Andrew Robinson Stoney-Bowes, whose abusive marriage to the Countess of Strathmore parallels Barry's treatment of Lady Lyndon. The chapter also includes critical praise for the novel from figures like Anthony Trollope and Leslie Stephen.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Self-Delusion
The chapter discusses the real-life models for Barry Lyndon, highlighting how the novel explores the self-justifying narratives of an adventurer.
Marriage as Transaction
The parallel between Barry's marriage to Lady Lyndon and Stoney-Bowes's marriage to the Countess of Strathmore underscores the theme of marriage as a financial and social transaction.
Violence and Dueling
The chapter references Stoney-Bowes fighting a duel on behalf of his future wife, a motif central to Barry's own story.
Characters to notice
- Barry Lyndon
The eponymous hero of the novel, discussed in relation to his real-life inspirations and his abusive treatment of his wife.
- Lady Lyndon
The Countess Lyndon, whose character is compared to Mary Eleanor Bowes, Dowager Countess of Strathmore.
- Stoney Bowes
Andrew Robinson Stoney-Bowes, a key historical model for Barry Lyndon, known for his abusive marriage and financial ruin.
- Thackeray
The author of 'Barry Lyndon,' whose writing process and personal reflections on the novel are detailed.
Key passages
“My father once said to me when I was a girl: ‘You needn’t read Barry Lyndon, you won’t like it.’ Indeed, it is scarcely a book to like, but one to admire and to wonder at for its consummate power and mastery.”
Thackeray told his daughter that Barry Lyndon was not an enjoyable read, but rather a work to be admired for its literary skill.
This reflects Thackeray's own ambivalent feelings toward his novel, despite its critical acclaim.
“In imagination, language, construction, and general literary capacity, Thackeray never did anything more remarkable than Barry Lyndon.”
Anthony Trollope considered Barry Lyndon Thackeray's most remarkable work in terms of creativity, style, and structure.
This high praise from a fellow novelist underscores the book's literary significance.