"The History of
Pendennis" is a novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, published from 1848 to 1850.
Arthur Pendennis
("Pen" to his friends), a young English gentleman, is the hero of the storyl. Born in the country, he leaves for London to seek a better life. It's another Thackeray's satirical insight on society.
Pen is an only child of a demised doctor. He and his foster-sister Laura are raised in the village by his mother, Mrs. Helen
Pendennis. The family has risen to gentility though not particularly wealthy. The Pendennis family claims descent from an ancient family, and Pen's uncle, retired army Major Pendennis, associates with wealthy and titled people. When he is 18, Pen falls in love with Emily Fotheringay, an actress older than him. Emily's father, Captain Costigan, believes Pen to be rich and wants him to marry his daughter, to the disdain of Pen's mother. She summons Major Pendennis who derails the marriage.
Brokenhearted, Pen leaves home to study in Oxbridge living extravagantly. After two years, he fails his final examination and returns home. He soon returns to Oxbridge, retakes the exam and obtains a degree, but his mother thinks earning a living is not becoming of her son and harmful to his health.
In the neighborhood, the
Clavering family returns to their big house which has been vacated for many years. The family consists of Sir Francis, a baronet and Member of Parliament addicted to gambling; his rich and kindly wife whose father earned his fortune in India; their young son; and Lady Clavering's daughter from her first marriage, Blanche Amory. The Pendennises become friendly with the Claverings. Pen is infatuated with Blanche, but the flirtation is short-lived. His mother still still prefers Laura.
Pen goes to London where he meets George Warrington, a journalist. Warrington helps him to become a writer with success enough to support himself. The Clavering family also comes up to London. Blanche continues her flirtatious ways. Pen's college friend, Henry Foker, falls in love with Blanche but his father will disinherit him unless he marries his cousin Ann. Foker leaves England, unable to marry Blanche but unwilling to marry his cousin either.
Colonel Altamont is introduced to the story. He holds a secret about the Claverings and uses this to extort money from the baronet. Major Pendennis who meets Altamont, recognizes him from his Army service in India, and knows "Altamont" is Lady Clavering's supposedly dead first husband, Mr. Amory. He is actually an escaped convict and a murderer. Pen meets pretty but lower-class Fanny Bolton. They fall in love but Pen decides not to pursue the relationship for both their sake, but he falls ill. When malicious gossip, started by a Mr Huxter, reaches his mother and Laura, they rush to his side, finding Fanny in his room, where she has just arrived to nurse him, but his mother and Laura think the worst. They treat Fanny rudely. Pen, unconscious, is unable to defend Fanny. He soon recovers.
Warrington falls in love with Laura but cannot marry her because of his earlier disastrous marriage. He is separated from his wife and her children (not his) but supports them.
Meantime, Helen's health deteriorates. He finally discovers how his mother treated Fanny. After explaining to his mother, she asks forgiveness from Pen, but her health got worse and she dies. Pen inherits the family property of 500 pounds a year. He leases his house at Fairoaks and returns to London while Laura goes to live as companion to a Lady Rockminster. Fanny Bolton eventually marries Mr. Huxter.
Major Pendennis, hoping to arrange a marriage between Pen and Blanche Amory, meets Sir Francis and threatens to divulge his secret - that he is not really married to Lady Clavering - if Sir Francis will not retire and turn over his Parliament set to Pen. Sir Francis consents. However, Morgan, Major Pendennis's shrewd valet overhears and tries to extort the Major, Pen, Altamont, Sir Francis, and Lady Clavering. Major Pendennis won't stand for this, threatening Morgan for being a thief himself. Pen finally becomes engaged to Blanche although they do not love each other. Then through Morgan, Pen learns of the scandal regarding the Claverings. Pen acts honourable by maintaining his engagement with Blanche, but refusing her family money and the seat in Parliament.
Henry Foker returns to the story. His father has died and Ann, his fiancée and cousin, has eloped with another man, leaving Henry rich and free to marry as he wishes. He returns to England and proposes to Blanche. She accepts knowing he is richer than Pen. Learning this, Pen proposes to Laura, whom he has come to love. This time Laura accepts him, as she has always really loved him.
The secret of the Clavering family is finally exposed. Henry Foker breaks his engagement to Blanche realizing her deceit. It is also revealed that Blanche's father is bigamously married to several women before he "married" Blanche's mother, so the Clavering marriage is legal after all, making Blanche illegitimate. Blanche leaves for Paris where she marries a con man. Henry remains unmarried. Pen and Laura marry and he enters Parliament through his own honest efforts. So ends the history of the Pendennis.