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The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

Henry Fielding · 1749

Original text in English.

A foundling is driven out of the house that had taken him in and takes to the road.

Novel · 209 parts · about 343 000 words · about 24 h 53 of reading

Contents

1. To the Honourable6 min

BOOK I. — CONTAINING AS MUCH OF THE BIRTH OF THE FOUNDLING AS IS NECESSARY OR PROPER TO ACQUAINT THE READER WITH IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS HISTORY

1. Chapter i. The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the feast4 min
2. Chapter ii. A short description of squire Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister3 min
3. Chapter iii. An odd accident which befel Mr Allworthy at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs Deborah Wilkins, with some proper animadversions on bastards6 min
4. Chapter iv. The reader's neck brought into danger by a description; his escape; and the great condescension of Miss Bridget Allworthy5 min
5. Chapter v. Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them2 min
6. Chapter vi. Mrs Deborah is introduced into the parish with a simile. A short account of Jenny Jones, with the difficulties and discouragements which may attend young women in the pursuit of learning6 min
7. Chapter vii. Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the author7 min
8. Chapter viii. A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah; containing more amusement, but less instruction, than the former4 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing matters which will surprize the reader4 min
10. Chapter x. The hospitality of Allworthy; with a short sketch of the characters of two brothers, a doctor and a captain, who were entertained by that gentleman6 min
11. Chapter xi. Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning falling in love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudential inducements to matrimony7 min
12. Chapter xii. Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find in it5 min
13. Chapter xiii. Which concludes the first book; with an instance of ingratitude, which, we hope, will appear unnatural4 min

BOOK II. — CONTAINING SCENES OF MATRIMONIAL FELICITY IN DIFFERENT DEGREES OF LIFE; AND VARIOUS OTHER TRANSACTIONS DURING THE FIRST TWO YEARS AFTER THE MARRIAGE BETWEEN CAPTAIN BLIFIL AND MISS BRIDGET ALLWORTHY

1. Chapter i. Showing what kind of a history this is; what it is like, and what it is not like3 min
2. Chapter ii. Religious cautions against showing too much favour to bastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs Deborah Wilkins3 min
3. Chapter iii. The description of a domestic government founded upon rules directly contrary to those of Aristotle6 min
4. Chapter iv. Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in domestic history8 min
5. Chapter v. Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and reflection of the reader9 min
6. Chapter vi. The trial of Partridge, the schoolmaster, for incontinency; the evidence of his wife; a short reflection on the wisdom of our law; with other grave matters, which those will like best who understand them most10 min
7. Chapter vii. A short sketch of that felicity which prudent couples may extract from hatred: with a short apology for those people who overlook imperfections in their friends7 min
8. Chapter viii. A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in the most desperate cases3 min
9. Chapter ix. A proof of the infallibility of the foregoing receipt, in the lamentations of the widow; with other suitable decorations of death, such as physicians, &c., and an epitaph in the true stile7 min

BOOK III. — CONTAINING THE MOST MEMORABLE TRANSACTIONS WHICH PASSED IN THE FAMILY OF MR ALLWORTHY, FROM THE TIME WHEN TOMMY JONES ARRIVED AT THE AGE OF FOURTEEN, TILL HE ATTAINED THE AGE OF NINETEEN. IN THIS BOOK

1. Chapter i. Containing little or nothing3 min
2. Chapter ii. The heroe of this great history appears with very bad omens. A little tale of so LOW a kind that some may think it not worth their notice. A word or two concerning a squire, and more relating to a gamekeeper and a schoolmaster9 min
3. Chapter iii. The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of Mr Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning——4 min
4. Chapter iv. Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise5 min
5. Chapter v. The opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, and other matters8 min
6. Chapter vi. Containing a better reason still for the before-mentioned opinions6 min
7. Chapter vii. In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage3 min
8. Chapter viii. A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones4 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square4 min
10. Chapter x. In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different lights4 min

BOOK IV. — CONTAINING THE TIME OF A YEAR

1. Chapter i. Containing five pages of paper5 min
2. Chapter ii. A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western5 min
3. Chapter iii. Wherein the history goes back to commemorate a trifling incident that happened some years since; but which, trifling as it was, had some future consequences4 min
4. Chapter iv. Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it5 min
5. Chapter v. Containing matter accommodated to every taste9 min
6. Chapter vi. An apology for the insensibility of Mr Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia; in which possibly we may, in a considerable degree, lower his character in the estimation of those men of wit and gallantry who approve the heroes in most of our modern comedies7 min
7. Chapter vii. Being the shortest chapter in this book2 min
8. Chapter viii. A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style, and which none but the classical reader can taste9 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing matter of no very peaceable colour5 min
10. Chapter x. A story told by Mr Supple, the curate. The penetration of Squire Western. His great love for his daughter, and the return to it made by her7 min
11. Chapter xi. The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep into nature8 min
12. Chapter xii. Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the preceding chapter5 min
13. Chapter xiii. A dreadful accident which befel Sophia. The gallant behaviour of Jones, and the more dreadful consequence of that behaviour to the young lady; with a short digression in favour of the female sex. —5 min
14. Chapter xiv. The arrival of a surgeon.—His operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid10 min

BOOK V. — CONTAINING A PORTION OF TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF A YEAR

1. Chapter i. Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it is introduced7 min
2. Chapter ii. In which Mr Jones receives many friendly visits during his confinement; with some fine touches of the passion of love, scarce visible to the naked eye8 min
3. Chapter iii. Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing4 min
4. Chapter iv. A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident5 min
5. Chapter v. A very long chapter, containing a very great incident14 min
6. Chapter vi. By comparing which with the former, the reader may possibly correct some abuse which he hath formerly been guilty of in the application of the word love10 min
7. Chapter vii. In which Mr Allworthy appears on a sick-bed9 min
8. Chapter viii. Containing matter rather natural than pleasing9 min
9. Chapter ix. Which, among other things, may serve as a comment on that saying of Aeschines, that “drunkenness shows the mind of a man, as a mirrour reflects his person.”7 min
10. Chapter x. Showing the truth of many observations of Ovid, and of other more grave writers, who have proved beyond contradiction, that wine is often the forerunner of incontinency6 min
11. Chapter xi. In which a simile in Mr Pope's period of a mile introduces as bloody a battle as can possibly be fought without the assistance of steel or cold iron6 min
12. Chapter xii. In which is seen a more moving spectacle than all the blood in the bodies of Thwackum and Blifil, and of twenty other such, is capable of producing7 min

BOOK VI. — CONTAINING ABOUT THREE WEEKS

1. Chapter i. Of love5 min
2. Chapter ii. The character of Mrs Western. Her great learning and knowledge of the world, and an instance of the deep penetration which she derived from those advantages10 min
3. Chapter iii. Containing two defiances to the critics7 min
4. Chapter iv. Containing sundry curious matters3 min
5. Chapter v. In which is related what passed between Sophia and her aunt8 min
6. Chapter vi. Containing a dialogue between Sophia and Mrs Honour, which may a little relieve those tender affections which the foregoing scene may have raised in the mind of a good-natured reader5 min
7. Chapter vii. A picture of formal courtship in miniature, as it always ought to be drawn, and a scene of a tenderer kind painted at full length8 min
8. Chapter viii. The meeting between Jones and Sophia3 min
9. Chapter ix. Being of a much more tempestuous kind than the former8 min
10. Chapter x. In which Mr Western visits Mr Allworthy8 min
11. Chapter xi. A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader4 min
12. Chapter xii. Containing love-letters, &c7 min
13. Chapter xiii. The behaviour of Sophia on the present occasion; which none of her sex will blame, who are capable of behaving in the same manner. And the discussion of a knotty point in the court of conscience7 min
14. Chapter xiv. A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister3 min

BOOK VII. — CONTAINING THREE DAYS

1. Chapter i. A comparison between the world and the stage6 min
2. Chapter ii. Containing a conversation which Mr Jones had with himself3 min
3. Chapter iii. Containing several dialogues9 min
4. Chapter iv. A picture of a country gentlewoman taken from the life4 min
5. Chapter v. The generous behaviour of Sophia towards her aunt5 min
6. Chapter vi. Containing great variety of matter9 min
7. Chapter vii. A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs Honour8 min
8. Chapter viii. Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon kind6 min
9. Chapter ix. The wise demeanour of Mr Western in the character of a magistrate. A hint to justices of peace, concerning the necessary qualifications of a clerk; with extraordinary instances of paternal madness and7 min
10. Chapter x. Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but low9 min
11. Chapter xi. The adventure of a company of soldiers7 min
12. Chapter xii. The adventure of a company of officers12 min
13. Chapter xiii. Containing the great address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant10 min
14. Chapter xiv. A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone11 min
15. Chapter xv. The conclusion of the foregoing adventure7 min

BOOK VIII. — CONTAINING ABOUT TWO DAYS

1. Chapter i. A wonderful long chapter concerning the marvellous; being much the longest of all our introductory chapters12 min
2. Chapter ii. In which the landlady pays a visit to Mr Jones6 min
3. Chapter iii. In which the surgeon makes his second appearance4 min
4. Chapter iv. In which is introduced one of the pleasantest barbers that was ever recorded in history, the barber of Bagdad, or he in Don Quixote, not excepted7 min
5. Chapter v. A dialogue between Mr Jones and the barber7 min
6. Chapter vi. In which more of the talents of Mr Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was7 min
7. Chapter vii. Containing better reasons than any which have yet appeared for the conduct of Partridge; an apology for the weakness of Jones; and some further anecdotes concerning my landlady6 min
8. Chapter viii. Jones arrives at Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; the character of that house, and of a petty-fogger which he there meets with8 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing several dialogues between Jones and Partridge, concerning love, cold, hunger, and other matters; with the lucky and narrow escape of Partridge, as he was on the very brink of making a fatal10 min
10. Chapter x. In which our travellers meet with a very extraordinary adventure14 min
11. Chapter xi. In which the Man of the Hill begins to relate his history16 min
12. Chapter xii. In which the Man of the Hill continues his history10 min
13. Chapter xiii. In which the foregoing story is farther continued12 min
14. Chapter xiv. In which the Man of the Hill concludes his history14 min
15. Chapter xv. A brief history of Europe; and a curious discourse between Mr Jones and the Man of the Hill9 min

BOOK IX. — CONTAINING TWELVE HOURS

1. Chapter i. Of those who lawfully may, and of those who may not, write such histories as this9 min
2. Chapter ii. Containing a very surprizing adventure indeed, which Mr Jones met with in his walk with the Man of the Hill7 min
3. Chapter iii. The arrival of Mr Jones with his lady at the inn; with a very full description of the battle of Upton9 min
4. Chapter iv. In which the arrival of a man of war puts a final end to hostilities, and causes the conclusion of a firm and lasting peace between all parties7 min
5. Chapter v. An apology for all heroes who have good stomachs, with a description of a battle of the amorous kind8 min
6. Chapter vi. A friendly conversation in the kitchen, which had a very common, though not very friendly, conclusion9 min
7. Chapter vii. Containing a fuller account of Mrs Waters, and by what means she came into that distressful situation from which she was rescued by Jones7 min

BOOK X. — IN WHICH THE HISTORY GOES FORWARD ABOUT TWELVE HOURS

1. Chapter i. Containing instructions very necessary to be perused by modern critics4 min
2. Chapter ii. Containing the arrival of an Irish gentleman, with very extraordinary adventures which ensued at the inn9 min
3. Chapter iii. A dialogue between the landlady and Susan the chamber-maid, proper to be read by all inn-keepers and their servants; with the arrival, and affable behaviour of a beautiful young lady; which may teach10 min
4. Chapter iv. Containing infallible nostrums for procuring universal disesteem and hatred5 min
5. Chapter v. Showing who the amiable lady, and her unamiable maid, were8 min
6. Chapter vi. Containing, among other things, the ingenuity of Partridge, the madness of Jones, and the folly of Fitzpatrick7 min
7. Chapter vii. In which are concluded the adventures that happened at the inn at Upton7 min
8. Chapter viii. In which the history goes backward7 min
9. Chapter ix. The escape of Sophia12 min

BOOK XI. — CONTAINING ABOUT THREE DAYS

1. Chapter i. A crust for the critics7 min
2. Chapter ii. The adventures which Sophia met with after her leaving Upton12 min
3. Chapter iii. A very short chapter, in which however is a sun, a moon, a star, and an angel3 min
4. Chapter iv. The history of Mrs Fitzpatrick9 min
5. Chapter v. In which the history of Mrs Fitzpatrick is continued8 min
6. Chapter vi. In which the mistake of the landlord throws Sophia into a dreadful consternation6 min
7. Chapter vii. In which Mrs Fitzpatrick concludes her history13 min
8. Chapter viii. A dreadful alarm in the inn, with the arrival of an unexpected friend of Mrs Fitzpatrick11 min
9. Chapter ix. The morning introduced in some pretty writing. A stagecoach. The civility of chambermaids. The heroic temper of Sophia. Her generosity. The return to it. The departure of the company, and their7 min
10. Chapter x. Containing a hint or two concerning virtue, and a few more concerning suspicion7 min

BOOK XII. — CONTAINING THE SAME INDIVIDUAL TIME WITH THE FORMER

1. Chapter i. Showing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modern author, and what is to be considered as lawful prize4 min
2. Chapter ii. In which, though the squire doth not find his daughter, something is found which puts an end to his pursuit6 min
3. Chapter iii. The departure of Jones from Upton, with what passed between him and Partridge on the road8 min
4. Chapter iv. The adventure of a beggar-man7 min
5. Chapter v. Containing more adventures which Mr Jones and his companion met on the road7 min
6. Chapter vi. From which it may be inferred that the best things are liable to be misunderstood and misinterpreted5 min
7. Chapter vii. Containing a remark or two of our own and many more of the good company assembled in the kitchen9 min
8. Chapter viii. In which fortune seems to have been in a better humour with Jones than we have hitherto seen her7 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing little more than a few odd observations6 min
10. Chapter x. In which Mr Jones and Mr Dowling drink a bottle together8 min
11. Chapter xi. The disasters which befel Jones on his departure for Coventry; with the sage remarks of Partridge5 min
12. Chapter xii. Relates that Mr Jones continued his journey, contrary to the advice of Partridge, with what happened on that occasion14 min
13. Chapter xiii. A dialogue between Jones and Partridge9 min
14. Chapter xiv. What happened to Mr Jones in his journey from St Albans6 min

BOOK XIII. — CONTAINING THE SPACE OF TWELVE DAYS

1. Chapter i. An Invocation5 min
2. Chapter ii. What befel Mr Jones on his arrival in London9 min
3. Chapter iii. A project of Mrs Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston5 min
4. Chapter iv. Which consists of visiting4 min
5. Chapter v. An adventure which happened to Mr Jones at his lodgings, with some account of a young gentleman who lodged there, and of the mistress of the house, and her two daughters9 min
6. Chapter vi. What arrived while the company were at breakfast, with some hints concerning the government of daughters10 min
7. Chapter vii. Containing the whole humours of a masquerade9 min
8. Chapter viii. Containing a scene of distress, which will appear very extraordinary to most of our readers8 min
9. Chapter ix. Which treats of matters of a very different kind from those in the preceding chapter6 min
10. Chapter x. A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some eyes4 min
11. Chapter xi. In which the reader will be surprized11 min
12. Chapter xii. In which the thirteenth book is concluded4 min

BOOK XIV. — CONTAINING TWO DAYS

1. Chapter i. An essay to prove that an author will write the better for having some knowledge of the subject on which he writes6 min
2. Chapter ii. Containing letters and other matters which attend amours8 min
3. Chapter iii. Containing various matters8 min
4. Chapter iv. Which we hope will be very attentively perused by young people of both sexes6 min
5. Chapter v. A short account of the history of Mrs Miller7 min
6. Chapter vi. Containing a scene which we doubt not will affect all our readers9 min
7. Chapter vii. The interview between Mr Jones and Mr Nightingale8 min
8. Chapter viii. What passed between Jones and old Mr Nightingale; with the arrival of a person not yet mentioned in this history12 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing strange matters6 min
10. Chapter x. A short chapter, which concludes the book2 min

BOOK XV. — IN WHICH THE HISTORY ADVANCES ABOUT TWO DAYS

1. Chapter i. Too short to need a preface2 min
2. Chapter ii. In which is opened a very black design against Sophia8 min
3. Chapter iii. A further explanation of the foregoing design7 min
4. Chapter iv. By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady is when she applies her eloquence to an ill purpose3 min
5. Chapter v. Containing some matters which may affect, and others which may surprize, the reader11 min
6. Chapter vi. By what means the squire came to discover his daughter8 min
7. Chapter vii. In which various misfortunes befel poor Jones12 min
8. Chapter viii. Short and sweet4 min
9. Chapter ix. Containing love-letters of several sorts10 min
10. Chapter x. Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observations upon them7 min
11. Chapter xi. Containing curious, but not unprecedented matter4 min
12. Chapter xii. A discovery made by Partridge5 min

BOOK XVI

1. Chapter i. Of prologues3 min
2. Chapter ii. A whimsical adventure which befel the squire, with the distressed situation of Sophia13 min
3. Chapter iii. What happened to Sophia during her confinement6 min
4. Chapter iv. In which Sophia is delivered from her confinement8 min
5. Chapter v. In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes to a play with Mrs Miller and Partridge12 min
6. Chapter vi. In which the history is obliged to look back5 min
7. Chapter vii. In which Mr Western pays a visit to his sister, in company with Mr Blifil4 min
8. Chapter viii. Schemes of Lady Bellaston for the ruin of Jones7 min
9. Chapter ix. In which Jones pays a visit to Mrs Fitzpatrick8 min
10. Chapter x. The consequence of the preceding visit5 min

BOOK XVII

1. Chapter i. Containing a portion of introductory writing3 min
2. Chapter ii. The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs Miller6 min
3. Chapter iii. The arrival of Mr Western, with some matters concerning the paternal authority13 min
4. Chapter iv. An extraordinary scene between Sophia and her aunt8 min
5. Chapter v. Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale visit Jones in the prison6 min
6. Chapter vi. In which Mrs Miller pays a visit to Sophia6 min
7. Chapter vii. A pathetic scene between Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller5 min
8. Chapter viii. Containing various matters10 min
9. Chapter ix. What happened to Mr Jones in the prison10 min

BOOK XVIII

1. Chapter i. A farewel to the reader2 min
2. Chapter ii. Containing a very tragical incident9 min
3. Chapter iii. Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange discovery that he made on that occasion8 min
4. Chapter iv. Containing two letters in very different stiles6 min
5. Chapter v. In which the history is continued9 min
6. Chapter vi. In which the history is farther continued7 min
7. Chapter vii. Continuation of the history8 min
8. Chapter viii. Further continuation15 min
9. Chapter ix. A further continuation12 min
10. Chapter x. Wherein the history begins to draw towards a conclusion10 min
11. Chapter xi. The history draws nearer to a conclusion11 min
12. Chapter xii. Approaching still nearer to the end11 min
13. Chapter the last9 min

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