Henry Fielding 
History of Tom Jones, a Foundling 

The classic work “hailed as one of the great comic novels of English literature and author Henry Fielding’s masterpiece” (History Net.com).   Both a picaresque and Bildungsroman, The History of Tom Jones follows the life of its hero from his discovery as a foundling on the property of Squire Allworthy in England’s West Country to his banishment from the estate and subsequent journey to London to escape an arranged marriage. Tom’s many dalliances and misadventures throughout add to the charm of this bawdy romantic comedy.   Written in the eighteenth century, it is “a classic English novel that captures the spirit of its age and whose famous characters—Squire Western, the chaplain Thwackum, the scheming Blifil, seductive Molly Seagrim, and Sophia, Tom’s true love—have come to represent Augustan society in all its loquacious, turbulent, comic variety” (The Guardian, “The 100 Best Novels”).   “Incredibly complex, with a huge cast of characters, plot twists too numerous to relate and humor sharp enough to cut a finger.” —History Net.com