Eager to leave his humble beginnings, Redmond Barry, runs multiple scams, conning his way into the military and pursuing the fortune of a young widow.For every momentous achievement, he's riddled with a bittersweet result. Redmond Barry is born into a poor Irish family and desires to become a man of status and means. Although ambitious, he's naturally mischievous and has no interest in doing things the right way. After falling into debt, he joins the military but quickly discovers his disdain for public service. He goes AWOL and attempts to earn a living by cheating people on the streets. He gambles and lies his way from one situation to the next. It's not until a major tragedy that Redmond Barry, now known as Barry Lyndon, is forced to confront his reality. Barry Lyndon is a character-driven portrait of a man on a path to self-destruction. William Makepeace Thackeray explores the dangers of debauchery, greed and overt self-preservation. Alongside Vanity Fair, Barry Lyndon is one of the author's best-known works. It was famously adapted for film in 1975 by director Stanley Kubrick. With an eye-catching new cover, and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Barry Lyndon is both modern and readable.