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Which early William Makepeace Thackeray work satirizes romanticized crime stories?
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William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray, detail of an oil painting by Samuel Laurence; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
The early work by William Makepeace Thackeray that satirizes romanticized crime stories is titled Catherine (1839–40).1
Thackeray wrote this piece as a burlesque of the popular "Newgate novels," which were known for their romanticized depictions of crime and low life. Despite its satirical intent, Catherine is also considered a realistic crime story in its own right.1