The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
Published on 11. February 2026
1457 pages
978-3-8190-0272-4 (ISBN)
Description
A foundling of mysterious parentage brought up by Mr Allworthy on his country estate, Tom Jones is deeply in love with the seemingly unattainable Sophia Western, the beautiful daughter of the neighbouring squire - though he sometimes succumbs to the charms of the local girls. But when his amorous escapades earn the disapproval of his benefactor, Tom is banished to make his own fortune. Sophia, meanwhile, is determined to avoid an arranged marriage to Allworthy's scheming nephew and escapes from her rambunctious father to follow Tom to London. A vivid Hogarthian panorama of eighteenth century life, spiced with danger and intrigue, bawdy exuberance and good-natured authorial interjections, Tom Jones is one of the greatest and most ambitious comic novels in English literature.
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Person
Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 - 8 October 1754) was a seminal English novelist, playwright, journalist, and magistrate, often recognized alongside Samuel Richardson as a founder of the traditional English realistic novel. He is best known for his masterpiece Tom Jones and his contributions to law enforcement in London.
