Henry Fielding, "The History of Tom Jones": a description of the book, content and reviews

Henry Fielding - the famous British writer of the 18th century, famous as one of the founders of the realistic novel. The most famous work of the author is "The History of Tom Jones, Found." We will talk about this novel in our article.

About the book

The novel was first published in 1749 and became the most famous work that Henry Fielding wrote. It has a pronounced social orientation, but without sharp criticism. The author sympathizes with the humiliated destitute poor, wants to alleviate their unenviable fate. He is not touched by them, in which one could observe some insincerity. Therefore, there is no more embellishment of the appearance of the poor. The aristocrat also does not elude Fielding's attention. With them, he does not stand on ceremony, portraying their cunning, deceit and greed.

Nevertheless, the book is written very easily and vividly. It is impossible to read without a smile. The author does not try to thicken the colors and turn his creation into a tragedy. His desire is to portray life as he sees it.

Henry Fielding. "The History of Tom Jones, The Foundling": a summary

Squire Olverty lives with her sister Bridget. One day they are thrown to the threshold by a baby. The boy is decided to leave and give the name Tom. But Olverty does not stop looking for the parents of the foundling. Soon is the mother - Jenny Jones, she confesses everything, and she is expelled from the village. Then the father, the school teacher Partridge, is also found, who also turns out to be deported.

Bridget soon marries and gives birth to the son of Blayfil. He and Tom are brought up together and become friends. Although boys are not at all like characters. Blayfil is always restrained, diligently studying and not breaking the rules. While Tom is his complete opposite.

Tom is friends with the daughter of their neighbor, a wealthy squire, Sophie.

Watchman's family

Tom Jones is not the only mischief. Henry Fielding gave his hero and responsiveness. The boy visits the family of a poor caretaker who dies of hunger, and gives all his money. Tom falls in love with Molly, the daughter of a watchman. The girl takes courtship, and soon everyone will know about her pregnancy.

The message is immediately distributed around the district. Learn about this and Sofia Western - the girl has long been in love with Tom, so news leads her into despair. The very same Tom, for a long time perceiving her as a friend, only now begins to notice the beauty of the girl. Gradually the young man falls in love with Sofia.

But now Tom must marry Molly. But the situation changes dramatically when a young man finds a future bride in the arms of another man. It turns out that Molly does not wear his child.

Olverty's disease and secret love

Henry Fielding with great love depicts the main character and singles it out against the others. So, when Olverty begins to get sick, all the household, even Blythil, think only of inheritance. All except Tom, who sincerely worries about the old man. Soon comes the news of Bridget's death. Olwerti is getting better. Tom gets drunk with joy, which causes condemnation of others.

Squire Western, wanting to extradite her daughter for Blayfila, negotiates this with Olverti. On the eve of the wedding, Sofia announces that she will not marry. Blayfil has a cunning plan. He convinces Olwertie that Tom got drunk and was glad that he was dying. Squire believes his words and drives Tom out.

Secretly, Tom wrote a letter to Sophia, confessing his love and that now they could not be happy: he was a beggar and had to leave Olverti's house.

Let's hit the road

The story of Tom Jones continues. Henry Fielding describes how his hero leaves the estate. Simultaneously, Sofia runs away from home, not wanting to marry the unloved.

On the way, Tom meets Partridge, who convinces the young man that he is not his father, but asks permission to accompany him. Then Tom manages to be rescued from the hands of the rapist Mrs. Waters. A field of which a woman easily seduces a young man.

Sophia finds herself in the same hotel as Tom, but when he finds out that he has betrayed her, she is furious. The girl leaves the hotel, and immediately her angered father appears.

In the morning, Tom realizes why Sofia fled. He desperately sets out on his way, hoping to catch up with his beloved.

London

Henry Fielding takes us to the capital of England. Sophia arrives in London and stops at Lady Bellaston, who promises to help her. Soon Tom arrives here. With great difficulty he looks for his beloved, but she remains adamant.

Lady Bellaston falls in love with Tom. Wanting to get rid of her harassment, the young man makes her an offer. A lady can not connect her destiny with a beggar, who is twice as young as her. Bellaston refuses Tom, but gets furious. She informs Fellamaru, in love with Sofia, that their happiness is hampered by a crook. If you remove it, the girl agrees to get married.

Jail

Again, an unexpected turn in the novel presents his readers Henry Fielding. Tom's biography is again changing dramatically. On the street a young man is attacked, he defends himself and hurts his opponent. Tomas is immediately surrounded by sailors sent by Fellamar and they take him to prison.

Western finds his daughter and locks before the arrival of Blayfil and Olverti, who soon appear. It turns out that Mrs. Waters is Tom's mother. Olwerty calls the woman to her. She says that Tom is the son of a friend of the squire, and his mother is sister Olverty Bridget. The truth is also revealed about the slander of Blayfil.

Decoupling

The novel that Henry Fielding wrote is coming to an end. The story of Tom Jones ends with the fact that the young man is released from prison - the enemy defeated by him is alive and does not bring charges. Olverti repents and begs forgiveness, but the young man does not blame him for anything.

Sophia learns that Tom was not going to marry Bellaston, but just wanted to get rid of the courtship of the old lady.

Jones comes to Sophia, he intends to ask her hands again. The girl agrees. And when Western learns that Tomorrow will become Alberti's heir, and not Blayfil, he gives his blessing gladly.

The wedding is celebrated in London, after the ceremony the newlyweds go to the village, where they intend to live away from the city bustle until the end of their days.

Readers' comments

What impression does Henry Fielding make on readers? Books of the writer during life were perceived with great enthusiasm. How do modern readers perceive the "History of Tom Jones"? Basically, they give the product the highest marks, noting its reality, charismatic characters and immersion in the past. The only negative, which is allocated by both supporters and opponents, is the volume. Indeed, the two-volume work is read not fast. But some in this find the charm of the work - for a long time of reading you manage to get used to the heroes, they become native. A number of readers find a common ground between Fielding's novel and the books of J. Austin.

The work is worth reading to those who wish to immerse themselves in the 18th century, to feel the spirit of that era. Learn about how Europe lived then, to be more exact, England.