The Rose and the Ring (Barnes & Noble Digital Library)

A stolen crown, a rose, and a ring, which render their wearers beautiful, as well as a meddling fairy and  royal intrigue in imaginary countries – all come together in this 1854 fractured fairy tale of monarchy and its foibles. This comedic tale is a witty and sarcastic commentary on beauty, which Thackeray wrote to amuse his daughters.

William Makepeace Thackeray (1811–1863), a British satirical writer, also wrote magazine articles and travel books. His most devoted readers were lords and ladies, whom he satirized in his works. He is best known for his novels Vanity Fair and The Luck of Barry Lyndon, which skewer the pretensions of English high society.