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Title: The History of Tom Jones: A Foundling (Modern Library Classics) by Henry Fielding, Fredson Bowers ISBN: 0-8129-6607-4 Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 10 September, 2002 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $8.95

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Average Customer Rating: 5 (1 review)

Rating: 5
Summary: "...he was certainly born to be hanged."
Comment: There aren't a lot of people today who are willing to tackle a book as seemingly daunting as TOM JONES. Many of today's readers seem to prefer lightweight "thrillers" or "fluff." When it was written, however, TOM JONES, at about 800 pages plus, was considered "light." It was based on Richardson's CLARISSA, a mammoth work, but, in my opinion, Fielding was a much better writer than was Richardson and TOM JONES is definitely a better book than CLARISSA.

Despite its length, the plot of TOM JONES really isn't at all convoluted. Tom is a foundling who was raised by the very wealthy Squire Allworthy. This doesn't sit at all well with Mr. Blifil, Squire Allworth's nephew and heir.

While still a teenager, Tom falls in love with the daughter of his neighbor, the beautiful and headstrong Sophia Western. Tom's roving eye, and his desire to unravel the mystery of his parentage, however, sabotages his romance with Sophia and she runs away when her father wants her to marry Blifil, instead.

Although the above scenario could be interpreted as dramatic, TOM JONES is a highly comic novel and the comic complications don't resolve themselves until the final pages of this very long book.

TOM JONES really is a book that has it all. Tom is the original "bad boy" that we can't help but love because, when all is said and done, his lovable qualities far outweigh his bad ones. But make no mistake...Tom definitely does have bad qualities along with the good. He's impetuous and even more headstrong than Sophia, he's a bit uncouth, to put it mildly and his appetites, all of them, are voracious.

Fielding seemingly used all of mankind to people TOM JONES. The book contains the very rich, the very poor, those of the highest integrity and those who have no integrity at all. There are political upheavals, muggers, rapists, stolen legal documents and secrets of paternity...all contained within this glorious book's pages. And there's romance aplenty. Tom and Sophia never stop loving each other and they never stop doing all that's necessary to get back into each other's arms...for good.

Fielding wasn't the tidiest writer around and TOM JONES does contain much that really isn't necessary to the plot. A reader new to this book has to be prepared for that because there will be times when something you think is going somewhere doesn't. Don't let this put you off, though, because even the things Fielding could have left out make for hilarious and entertaining reading.

TOM JONES is a book that's lusty, bawdy, excessive and, if that's not enough, lots of fun. If you think it's just "too much" to read, be assured, the pages really do fly by and, once you get caught up in this ripping good tale, you really won't want to put it down until the very last word.

TOM JONES is quite definitely a classic, a book that will never be forgotten. I think it definitely belongs on any list of "greatest one hundred" books and no serious reader can call himself or herself "well read" until he or she has devoured TOM JONES at least once. Not only recommended, but, for the serious student of literature, required.