1862. The Adventures of Philip on his Way Through the World; Shewing Who Robbed him, Who Helped him, and Who Passed him By: To Which is Now Prefixed a Shabby Genteel Story. Catherine: A Story. Vanity Fair is Thackeray's masterpiece, but he also showed great skill in writing historical fiction with fine attention to period manners and customs and a dispassionate sympathy for his character's actions. The History of Pendennis concerns a young man of moderate status and his pursuit of wealth and happiness who becomes distracted by women and partying when he should be studying at the university. The Adventures of Philip was Thackeray's last novel. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing. Other volumes in this set are ISBN(s): 1417919469.