William Makepeace Thackeray (18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was an English novelist and illustrator known for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of British society, and The Luck of Barry Lyndon, adapted for a 1975 film by Stanley Kubrick.

Born in Calcutta, British India, Thackeray was sent to England after his father's death in 1815. Education included various schools, Trinity College, Cambridge, and travels across Europe. He squandered much of his inheritance, turning to journalism to support his family. Thackeray faced personal challenges, including his wife Isabella's mental illness. His career in journalism included contributions to Fraser's Magazine, The Times, and Punch.

The author gained fame with Vanity Fair and authored several notable works, also running unsuccessfully for Parliament and editing the Cornhill Magazine. Health issues from excessive eating, drinking, and lack of exercise led to his death by stroke at fifty-two.

Initially a satirist and parodist, he is best known for characters like Becky Sharp. Thackeray's early works savagely attacked high society, military prowess, marriage, and hypocrisy, under various pseudonyms. His later works, including Pendennis and The Newcomes, showed a more mellow tone, focusing on characters' coming of age and society's critique.