Favorite Classics: Henry Fielding

Joseph Andrews and Tom Jones by Henry Fielding

Henry Fielding (1707–1754) was an English writer and a judge known for his use of satire and humor in his works. I’ve read two of Fielding’s novels, and one of them is among my favorite classics. I'll talk about my favorite book, Tom Jones, first, even though it was actually published after Joseph Andrews.

Tom Jones

Published in 1749, Tom Jones (full title: The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling) is considered one of the first English novels. The kind and wealthy Squire Allworthy comes home from an extended business trip and finds an abandoned baby in his bed. He raises the orphan, Tom Jones, who grows into a kindhearted youth. He falls in love with Sophia Western, the beautiful daughter of the neighboring squire. After Tom is banished to make his own fortune, Sophia follows him to London to escape an arranged marriage.

Like I said, Tom Jones is one of my favorite classics and in my top 10 favorite books of all time. I loved the humor and the highly present omniscient narrator in this book. It’s a massive book (the Penguin English Library edition has 877 pages), but it’s a classic everyone should read. I definitely want to reread this book in the future!

Joseph Andrews

Joseph Andrews (or to give its full title, The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams) was Henry Fielding’s first full-length novel, published in 1742. It followed Fielding’s satirical novella An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews, or as it’s more commonly known, simply Shamela, which is a satirical attack on Samuel Richardson’s popular novel Pamela (published in 1740). Like Shamela (which I have not yet read), Joseph Andrews begins as a parody of Pamela. The main character Joseph Andrews is Pamela’s brother, who is as virtuous and innocent as his sister. Like Pamela, Joseph works as a servant and faces unwanted advances from his employer, Lady Booby (yes, you read that right. Lady Booby is the sister of Pamela’s employer and abductor Mr. B.).

After Joseph refuses Lady Booby’s advances, she discharges him, and Joseph and his old tutor, Parson Adams set off to visit Joseph’s sweetheart, Fanny. Along the way, they encounter a series of adventures in which, through their own innocence and honesty, they expose the hypocrisy of others.

I started this book not knowing that it was a parody of Richardson's Pamela. When I realized that, I put this book on pause to read Pamela first so I could appreciate the satire. After I came back to Fielding’s parody, I did find the beginning enjoyable. However, as the story progressed, it became less interesting. This novel didn’t have the same charm as Tom Jones, and in the end, it wasn’t very memorable. I gave this book three stars, but I would be curious to read Fielding’s Shamela.