Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

Literature & Writing Reviews & Recommendations
1

One of the books I really enjoyed reading was Tom Jones by Henry Fielding. We had the book laying around in our library for years without me ever looking at it. But once I discovered it it was a pleasant surprise. It must be one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Fielding’s humor is very subtle. Often his sentences are little tangled and have two meanings one obvious and one hidden. The hidden one is often ironic and funny, describing the hypocrisy of “honestâ€

2

Loved it! And he’s so very, very naughty. (Fielding, that is.) :laughing: Thanks for reminding me–I must reread it.

3

There’s a lot to love about 18th century fiction. I remember when I first read TJ being startled at the format - a chapter where the author talks directly to the reader, then the story continues… :smiley: Great fun.

Smollett is another favorite. Richardson, of course, is the exception. Blech. No tree should ever have had to die for Clarissa.

4

True. But then we wouldn’t have had Fielding’s Shamela. :laughing:

I used to assume that 18thC fiction was pretty stodgy. Ha!

5

And for the ultimate anti-stodgy bit of lit from the 18th C, try Lawrence Sterne’s Tristram Shandy.

6

Yes! What a kick. :smiley: While I love reading books via Gutenberg, TS is one of the few books that simply must be read in print-book form. Definitely a reading “experience.”