What happens when a writer sets out to mock the fashionable “Newgate” novels that glorify criminals—only to find his own villainess oddly compelling? In Catherine, William Makepeace Thackeray crafts a darkly satirical tale of crime, corruption, and twisted charm. Loosely based on the real-life criminal Catherine Hayes, the novel follows the rise and fall of a scheming, manipulative woman whose cunning is matched only by her capacity for deceit. Intended as a parody, Catherine subverts expectations by making its heroine dangerously likable, blurring the lines between condemnation and fascination.
Written in Thackeray’s signature ironic style, with frequent interjections from a narrator who is both amused and appalled, Catherine stands as an early experiment in antihero fiction—wicked, witty, and wildly ahead of its time. A must-read for fans of satire, historical crime, and literature that isn’t afraid to challenge morality and genre conventions.
William Makepeace Thackeray (18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863) was one of the great English writers of the 19th century, best known for his sharp, ironic take on the society of his time. Born in 1811 in India (then under British rule), he spent most of his life in England, where he became one of the most prominent literary voices of the Victorian era.
His most famous novel, Vanity Fair, is a sweeping portrait of English society.
