The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
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 Modern Library edition of Tom Jones, 1950 |
|
| Author | Henry Fielding |
|---|---|
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Comedy, Romance novel |
| Publisher | A Millar |
| Released | 28 February 1749 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) & AudioBook (Cassette) |
| ISBN | NA |
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (often known simply as Tom Jones) is a comic novel by Henry Fielding.
Contents |
[edit] Plot introduction
Tom Jones is considered one of the first prose works describable as a novel.[1] The novel is divided into 18 smaller books.
Tom Jones is a foundling discovered on the property of a very kind, wealthy landowner, Squire Allworthy. Tom grows into a vigorous and lusty, yet honest and kind-hearted, youth. He develops affection for his neighbor's daughter, Sophia Western. On one hand, their love reflects the romantic comedy genre popular in 18th-century Britain. However, Tom's status as a bastard causes Sophia's father and Allworthy to oppose their love; this criticism of class friction in society acted as a biting social commentary. The inclusion of prostitution and sexual promiscuity in the plot was also original for its time, and also acted as the foundation for criticism of the book's "lowness."[2]
[edit] Plot summary
The novel's events occupy 18 books, spanning from Tom's discovery as a baby to the resolution of central conflict.
[edit] Book I
Containing as Much of the Birth of the Foundling as Is Necessary or Proper to Acquaint the Reader with in the Beginning of This History
Squire Allworthy and his sister Bridget are introduced in their wealthy estate in Somerset. Allworthy returns from London after an extended business trip, and finds a baby sleeping in his bed. He summons a maid to take care of the child. After searching the nearby township, a young serving girl named Jenny Jones confesses to being the mother. Despite pressure to name the father, she refuses. Allworthy mercifully gives her a lecture of morals and exiles her from the village. Furthermore, he promises Ms Jones to raise the boy, whom he names Thomas, in his household.
Two brothers, a doctor and a ship captain surnamed Blifil, regularly visit the Allworthy estate. The doctor introduces the captain to Bridget in hopes of marrying into Allworthy's wealth. The couple falls in love and marries.
[edit] Book II
Containing Scenes of Matrimonial Felicity in Different Degrees of Life; and Various Other Transactions During the First Two Years After the Marriage Between Captain Blifil and Miss Bridget Allworthy
An incomplete summary of the book follows. Tom becomes a vigorous, lusty, kind-hearted youth who gets into a number of scrapes, from having a pregnant mistress to helping a servant avoid trouble for poaching by taking the blame upon himself. Mr. Blifil, the son of Squire Allworthy's sister Bridget, is about a year younger than Tom, and his enemy. Outwardly pious and dull, Blifil tries to discredit Tom whenever he can. Mr. Allworthy has a neighbor, Squire Western, who has a lovely young daughter, Sophia, his heir. Tom rescues Sophia when her horse bolts, suffering a broken arm in the process. During his recuperation at Western's house, he and Sophia fall in love. The Squire has other plans for her than to marry a poor bastard; he wants her to marry Blifil so their two lands will be joined. Meanwhile, due to Blifil's machinations, Tom is disinherited and evicted from the house. He then embarks upon a series of adventures at a number of roadside inns while on his way to London to make his fortune so he can marry his beloved Sophia. During these adventures, he unwittingly sleeps with Jenny Jones, and encounters his putative father as a traveling companion. In London, the handsome Tom becomes the lover of a much older, wealthy woman, and falls into further misadventures, ultimately resulting in him being sentenced to hang. Shortly before that is to take place, Blifil's duplicity is revealed, Tom is cleared of charges, and Tom realizes the error of his youthful ways, promising to always behave morally from now on. It is also discovered that Tom's true mother isn't Jenny Jones, but Squire Allworthy's sister, Bridget, who had paid Jenny to claim the baby as hers. Blifil is disinherited, Tom, now revealed as Allworthy's nephew, becomes his heir, and he becomes engaged to his beloved Sophia.
[edit] Characters
- Tom Jones
- Squire Allworthy
- Sophia Western
- Mr. Blifil
- Bridget Blifil
- Mr. Thwackum
- Mr. Square
- Jenny Jones
- Squire Western
- Mrs. Western
[edit] Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
1963 saw the release of Tom Jones, an uproarious and unconventional film directed by Tony Richardson and starring Albert Finney as Tom. The book was also twice used as the basis for an opera, once by François-André Philidor in 1765 and again by Edward German in 1907. See: Tom Jones (opera). A BBC adaptation was broadcast in 1997 with Max Beesley in the title role, dramatised from the novel by Simon Burke.
[edit] Release details
- 1749, UK, A Millar (ISBN NA), Pub date 28 February 1749, hardback (First edition)
- 1950, UK, Modern Library (ISBN NA), Pub date ? ? 1950, hardback
- 1973, UK, William Collins (ISBN 978-0004235295), Pub date ? February 1973, hardback
- 1992, UK, Wordsworth Editions (ISBN 978-1853260216), Pub date ? May 1992, paperback
- 1998, USA, Phoenix Press (ISBN 978-0460878333), Pub date 2 February 1998, paperback
- 2002, USA,Random House (Modern Library) (ISBN 978-0812966077), Pub date 30 Spetmeber 2002, paperback
- 2005, UK, Penguin Books (ISBN 978-0140436228), Pub date 28 April 2005, paperback
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ Yardley, Jonathan. "'Tom Jones,' as Fresh as Ever", Washington Post, 9 December 2003, pp. C1. Retrieved on 31 December 2006. (in English)
- ^ Sherburn, G. 1950, "Introduction," in H. Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, Modern Library, New York, p. viii.
[edit] External link
- Full text of The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling from Project Gutenberg
