The Book of Snobs
The Book of Snobs is a collection of weekly columns written by William Makepeace Thackeray in 1848 for Punch magazine.
With a satirical and humorous tone and with its protagonist named Snob, the book begins by stating that "snobs should be studied like other objects of natural science".
The book reviews the different social groups existing in countries such as England or France and states that they all suffer from the same problem: snobbery. Thackeray states that there are two main negative characteristics of these people: "give importance to unimportant things" and "meanly admire mean things".
Although Thackeray did not invent the word "snob", he did contribute greatly to giving it the meaning we know today.
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Public domain (US)·No sign-up·DRM-free·Real text, not scans
Copyright note. The Book of Snobs by William Makepeace Thackeray is believed to be in the public domain in the United States only. It may still be copyrighted in other countries. If you are not in the United States, please check your local laws to ensure this eBook is in the public domain in your country before downloading The Book of Snobs in PDF or EPUB.
- Pages
- 191
- Reading time
- 5 hours 23 minutes
- Pace
- Intermediate
- First published
- 1848
- Language
- English
- Downloads
- 2,200
178 years later, still timely
Why Read The Book of Snobs in 2026?
Thackeray files a witty field report on status performance. The sketches are quick, the judgment dry, and the taxonomy alarmingly familiar. It’s a pocket guide to recognizing role-play in polite society—then and now.
Today's connection
Status signaling runs our feeds. This book trains a cooler eye without souring the fun.
Spot the pose
Prestige without substance.
Short, sharp
Bite-sized satire.
Still relevant
Victorian memes, modern echoes.
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About the author
William Makepeace Thackeray
Society and ambition in bright satire with humane range and moral bite.
