Summary
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding is a lively and sprawling 18th-century novel that follows the misadventures of the charming but impulsive Tom Jones, a foundling raised by the generous Squire Allworthy on his country estate.
Though kind-hearted and full of good intentions, Tom’s passionate nature—and a series of romantic entanglements—lead to scandal, misjudgment, and exile.
Banished from his home, Tom embarks on a journey to London filled with duels, disguises, flirtations, mistaken identities, and colorful characters from every level of society.
Throughout, Tom struggles to prove his worth, clear his name, and win the heart of his true love, the virtuous Sophia Western.
Blending humor, satire, and sharp commentary on class, morality, and human nature, Fielding’s novel is a milestone of English literature.
Not only is it one of the first true novels in the English language, but it also pioneered a witty, omniscient narrator who speaks directly to the reader—making Tom Jones as entertaining today as it was in 1749.