Overview

Tom Jones was abandoned as a baby by his mother. When Tom falls in love with Sophia Western, their union is vehemently opposed by her wealthy father. In despair, Tom joins the army for a brief duration, finds a servant in a barber-surgeon named Partridge, beds two older women, and very nearly kills a man in a duel. Eventually the secret of Tom's birth is revealed, giving him one more chance at love with Sophia. Tom Jones is among the earliest English prose works describable as a novel. Though lengthy, the novel is highly organised; with critics declaring that it has one of the most perfect plots ever planned. The book became a best seller, with four editions being published in its first year alone. Tom Jones is generally regarded as Fielding's greatest book, and as a very influential English novel. This case laminate collector's edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.

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9781778780196

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Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 - 8 October 1754) was an English novelist and dramatist best known for his rich, earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones. Additionally, he holds a significant place in the history of law enforcement, having used his authority as a magistrate to found (with his half-brother John) what some have called London's first police force, the Bow Street Runners. His younger sister, Sarah, also became a successful writer. Fielding's lack of financial acumen meant he and his family often endured periods of poverty, but he was helped by Ralph Allen, a wealthy benefactor, on whom Squire Allworthy in Tom Jones was later based. Allen went on to provide for the education and support of Fielding's children after the writer's death. His greatest work was Tom Jones (1749), a meticulously constructed picaresque novel telling the convoluted and hilarious tale of how a foundling came into a fortune.

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