History of Tom Jones a Founding: Full text in one volume

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is a 1749 novel by Henry Fielding. The narrator provides that his purpose in the text will be to explore “human nature.” As such, his story veers between several extremes – comedy and tragedy, low and high society, moral and base. Squire Allworthy, a man defined by his interminable kindness, returns to his Somersetshire estate to find that his sister has hidden an infant in his bed. He adopts the child and names him Tom Jones. Tom grows up to be a good-hearted young man who falls in love with Sophia Western, the daughter of Squire Western. Sophia’s father wants her to marry Blifil, her cousin and Allworthy’s heir. Blifil is a hypocrite who pretends to be virtuous but is actually a liar and a cheat. Sophia’s father is also a hypocrite who pretends to be virtuous but is actually a drunkard and a lecher. Tom is accused of being the father of Molly Seagrim’s child and is thrown out of Allworthy’s house. He sets out on a journey to London where he meets Lady Bellaston, who becomes his mistress. Sophia runs away from home to avoid marrying Blifil and ends up in London where she meets Tom again. They are reconciled and plan to marry but are prevented from doing so by Squire Western who wants Sophia to marry Blifil. In the end, it is revealed that Tom is not the father of Molly’s child and he is reconciled with Allworthy. He marries Sophia and they live happily ever after. – ASIN: B0C7FKTBKN | ISBN13: 9798397639804 | ISBN-13: 979-8397639804