Henry Fielding

Where to start with Henry Fielding

Begin with The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, which is Fielding’s most celebrated novel and a central work in his literary output. This novel stands as a complete and self-contained narrative, offering a comprehensive introduction to his style, thematic concerns, and narrative ambition. After Tom Jones, proceed to The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, which shares thematic and structural elements with Tom Jones and was written in close chronological proximity. Both novels were composed during the same creative period and reflect Fielding’s development of the picaresque form and his satirical engagement with social and moral issues. An Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews, a satirical response to Samuel Richardson’s Pamela, provides insight into Fielding’s early satirical voice and his critical stance on contemporary literature. The journal of a voyage to Lisbon, a later work, offers a more personal and reflective tone, concluding Fielding’s major writings. Read in this order: Tom Jones, Joseph Andrews, Shamela, and the Lisbon journal.