Tom Jones is a great book and I'm sure you will enjoy finishing it. He also wrote two novels attacking Richardson's Pamela and Clarissa: to Wit: Shamela and Joseph Andrews which, though scurrilous, are also hilarious. Then he wrote a much more troubling book Jonathan Wild. Wild was a historical personage who was known as the "Thief Taker General" who though a scoundrel himself, delivered up thieves to the law where they were hanged (hence his reputation) and managed his own gang all along. I read TJ when I was in high school or college--I no longer recall which and thoroughly enjoyed it. But, I also liked Richardson whose Clarissa Harlowe is probably the greatest psychological novel of all time and rarely mentioned any more. Fielding began as a playwright and I read a few of his farces which were heavily influenced by French models. In the days when I really was into reading his plays it was hard to get his works, there were no reprints. So I would go to the Boston Public Library and read them in some 18th century edition of his collected works, There was an excellent film adaptation of Tom Jones starring Albert Finney as Tom in the 1960's. Today, both book and movie are largely ignored or forgotten. His final novel Amelia was rather biographical about his saintly wife and her loving but womanizing husband (himself). It's more realistic than TJ and more like something Richardson might have written (which comparison would have annoyed Fielding). I don't think there's anything like it until the 1890's. P.S. I hope you're back to posting regularly again.
I've been having such a great time with Tom Jones, I have been spending time looking into his other books. If you start it, please let me know what you think!
@@MayberryBookclubI only ever dipped into the book slightly, never finished, really _read_ or studied the book. There's a section I think telling the actual account of the real-life _Jonathan Wild,_ who comes across as someone who puts together something only the most devious small-time crook could have. Essentially its someone _really_ down on their luck turning to crime for money (i assume as anyone would do in those days). The danger (and intrigue) is that maybe the book could even be used as a manual.
The others experienced nothing like it even though they heard the same tales. I had melancholy thoughts, a strangeness in my mind, a feeling that I was not for that hour ,not for that place. Joseph Andrews is better.
One of the greatest books ever written
Tom Jones is a great book and I'm sure you will enjoy finishing it. He also wrote two novels attacking Richardson's Pamela and Clarissa: to Wit: Shamela and Joseph Andrews which, though scurrilous, are also hilarious. Then he wrote a much more troubling book Jonathan Wild. Wild was a historical personage who was known as the "Thief Taker General" who though a scoundrel himself, delivered up thieves to the law where they were hanged (hence his reputation) and managed his own gang all along.
I read TJ when I was in high school or college--I no longer recall which and thoroughly enjoyed it. But, I also liked Richardson whose Clarissa Harlowe is probably the greatest psychological novel of all time and rarely mentioned any more.
Fielding began as a playwright and I read a few of his farces which were heavily influenced by French models. In the days when I really was into reading his plays it was hard to get his works, there were no reprints. So I would go to the Boston Public Library and read them in some 18th century edition of his collected works,
There was an excellent film adaptation of Tom Jones starring Albert Finney as Tom in the 1960's. Today, both book and movie are largely ignored or forgotten.
His final novel Amelia was rather biographical about his saintly wife and her loving but womanizing husband (himself). It's more realistic than TJ and more like something Richardson might have written (which comparison would have annoyed Fielding). I don't think there's anything like it until the 1890's.
P.S. I hope you're back to posting regularly again.
One of my favourite books!
I have been meaning to read Fielding's _Jonathan Wild_ for awhile now.
I've been having such a great time with Tom Jones, I have been spending time looking into his other books. If you start it, please let me know what you think!
@@MayberryBookclubI only ever dipped into the book slightly, never finished, really _read_ or studied the book. There's a section I think telling the actual account of the real-life _Jonathan Wild,_ who comes across as someone who puts together something only the most devious small-time crook could have. Essentially its someone _really_ down on their luck turning to crime for money (i assume as anyone would do in those days). The danger (and intrigue) is that maybe the book could even be used as a manual.
love tom jones, it's so beautifully crafted and the ending is just a hoot! have a great reading
The others experienced nothing like it even though they heard the same tales.
I had melancholy thoughts, a strangeness in my mind, a feeling that I was not for that hour ,not for that place.
Joseph Andrews is better.
Americans say old weird