Vanity Fair [Tantor]

Wanda McCaddon’s narration of *Vanity Fair* is nothing short of a performance—one that transforms Thackeray’s dense, dialog-heavy prose into a vibrant, immersive experience. Her voice crackles with mischief when channeling Becky Sharp, dripping with false sweetness that makes the character’s manipulations all the more delicious. Amelia Sedley, by contrast, gets a tender, almost breathy delivery that underscores her fragility, though I sometimes wished McCaddon had dialed back the emotional whiplash between scenes. The production itself is clean and well-paced, with no jarring cuts or muffled lines, though the sheer length (nearly 29 hours) means some listeners might find themselves flagging during the slower political and military tangents. Thackeray’s satire is as sharp today as it was in 1848, skewering class, marriage, and ambition with a wit that feels modern. My biggest critique? The audiobook occasionally lingers too long on Thackeray’s authorial asides, which can feel like an indulgent lecture rather than part of the story. Still, McCaddon’s energy and the novel’s incandescent moments—like Becky’s razor-sharp barbs or the cringe-inducing social maneuvers—make this a standout listen. If you��re a fan of morally gray characters or biting social commentary, this is the audiobook for you.