Henry Fielding's picaresque tale of a young man's search for his place in the world The
History of Tom Jones is edited with notes and an introduction by Thomas Keymer and Alice Wakely
in Penguin Classics.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.In his introduction Thomas
Keymer discusses narrative techniques and themes the context of eighteenth century fiction and
satire and the historical and political background of the Jacobite rebellion. This volume also
includes a chronology further reading notes a glossary and an appendix on Fielding's
revisions.Henry Fielding (1707-1754) born at Sharpham Park in Somerset was a dramatist
novelist political agitator and founder of London's first police force the 'Bow Street
Runners'. As a playwright he was a thorn in the side of Sir Robert Walpole's Whig government
who effectively legislated his retirement from the theatre with the Licensing Act of 1737.
Undeterred Fielding launched his career as a novelist in 1740 with Shamela (a parody of Samuel
Richardson's Pamela) followed by Joseph Andrews (1741) an anticipation of his masterpiece
the comic novel Tom Jones (1749).If you enjoyed The History of Tom Jones you might like Henry
Fielding's The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy Gentleman also available in Penguin
Classics.
