Book excerpt: Born in Calcutta in 1811, William Makepeace Thackeray's earliest works were sharp satirical barbs written under a variety of pen names. After struggling through a rocky start as an author, Thackeray would go on to write several well-loved novels, including Vanity Fair, The Luck of Barry Lyndon, and Catherine. In Men's Wives, Thackeray turns his keen perception and cutting wit to the subject of romantic -- and not-so-romantic -- relationships.