BBC period drama based on 'masterpiece' novel leaves fans stunned 'Flawless'

Period drama fanatics are in for a treat as another BBC series has been discovered, with many branding it their "favourite adaptation". Based on William Makepeace Thackeray's novel of the same name, Vanity Fair follows the lives of Becky Sharp and Amelia Sedley, as well as their loved ones during and after the Napoleonic Wars. Becky is an intelligent, conniving young woman with a gift for satire. Despite being poverty stricken, she uses her charm to fascinate and seduce upper-class men. Meanwhile, Amelia, known as Emmy, is the polar opposite to Becky. Born into a wealthy London family, Emmy is good-natured but passive and naïve.

The series depicts Becky's journey to high society against the backdrop of Regency England. Written by Andrew Davies, Vanity Fair was originally broadcast for one series consisting of six episodes in 1998. Natasha Little and Frances Grey star as Becky and Emmy, while other cast members include David Ross, Philip Glenister, Michele Dotrice and Janine Duvitski. The series was praised for its strong performances, particularly Little's portrayal of Becky. Vanity Fair is currently not available on the BBC, but viewers can purchase the episodes on Amazon Prime.

William Makepeace Thackeray published Vanity Fair 1848 and is one of his best-selling novels. Flocking to praise the book on X, one wrote: "If you haven't read Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, put it on your list. It's a gossipy, bitchy satirical masterpiece."

Another posted: "Happy B'day William Makepeace Thackeray His masterpiece was the novel Vanity Fair (1847)."

Leaving a glowing review on Goodreads, a third penned: "Maybe I've matured as a reader now but I think I haven't enjoyed any classic as much as I did this one. It was thicker and longer than many a novel, but I enjoyed it the better for it. By the end, I understood why it was so long, the ending justified it. I was so daunted by its iconic title to read it before, but it was easier to read than most classics. The experience was complete, there wasn't anything missing, it had everything and so so much more."

Also lauding the book, another shared: "George Osborne is a character in William Thackeray's Vanity Fair - one of the greatest novels in English. The parallels with the ex-politician are amazing."

Period drama enthusiasts have also rushed to express their admiration for the BBC adaptation, with one writing: "I'm in the next to last episode of the 1998 version of Vanity Fair and I love it! I cannot believe I haven't watched it sooner! Anyone else love this version?"

A second agreed: "My favourite adaptation of 'Vanity Fair' is the BBC TV series of 1998. The screenplay was written by Andrew Davies and Natasha Little portrays Becky Sharp."

Echoing this, another shared: "Vanity Fair is my ultimate comfort read and this adaptation is my all time favourite!! I dislike the music - it is too loud in the mix but the acting and casting is superb. Natasha Little is outstanding as Becky Sharp - just perfection! and Nathaniel Parker is just how I imagined Rawdon Crawley looking and behaving."

A fourth declared: "This is not nearly as pleasant as the usual BBC mini-series, but it is compulsively watchable; the depiction is almost flawless and Natasha Little does a brilliant job portraying the woman we love to hate. The rest of the cast is also excellent, including Nathaniel Parker as Rawdon, the principal victim of his wife's intrigues, Philip Glenister as the lovable but awfully clumsy Dobbin and David Bradley as the appalling baronet Sir Pitt Crawley."