Novel
NOVEL
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
Read The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding. Explore this novel in a comfortable online edition, with an ordered table of contents and a place to save your reading.
214 reading sections1 edition
Free to read · Your place is saved on this device
ONE CHAPTER AT A TIME
Reading editionInside the book
- ·Front matter17 min read
- ·To the Honourable7 min read
- 1Book 1Chapter i · — The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the feast.5 min read
- 2Book 1Chapter ii · — A short description of squire Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister.4 min read
- 3Book 1Chapter iii · — An odd accident which befel Mr Allworthy at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs Deborah Wilkins, with some proper animadversions on bastards.7 min read
- 4Book 1Chapter iv · — The reader's neck brought into danger by a description; his escape; and the great condescension of Miss Bridget Allworthy.6 min read
- 5Book 1Chapter v · — Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them.3 min read
- 6Book 1Chapter 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 learning.7 min read
- 7Book 1Chapter vii · — Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the author.8 min read
- 8Book 1Chapter viii · — A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah; containing more amusement, but less instruction, than the former.5 min read
- 9Book 1Chapter ix · — Containing matters which will surprize the reader.4 min read
- 10Book 1Chapter 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 gentleman.7 min read
- 11Book 1Chapter xi · — Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning falling in love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudential inducements to matrimony.8 min read
- 12Book 1Chapter xii · — Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find in it.6 min read
- 13Book 1Chapter xiii · — Which concludes the first book; with an instance of ingratitude, which, we hope, will appear unnatural.5 min read
- 1Book 2Chapter i · — Showing what kind of a history this is; what it is like, and what it is not like.4 min read
- 2Book 2Chapter ii · — Religious cautions against showing too much favour to bastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs Deborah Wilkins.4 min read
- 3Book 2Chapter iii · — The description of a domestic government founded upon rules directly contrary to those of Aristotle.7 min read
- 4Book 2Chapter iv · — Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in domestic history.9 min read
- 5Book 2Chapter v · — Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and reflection of the reader.10 min read
- 6Book 2Chapter 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 most.11 min read
- 7Book 2Chapter 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 friends.8 min read
- 8Book 2Chapter viii · — A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in the most desperate cases.3 min read
- 9Book 2Chapter 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 stile.8 min read
- 3BOOK 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 BOOK1 min read
- 1Book 3Chapter i · — Containing little or nothing.3 min read
- 2Book 3Chapter 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 schoolmaster.10 min read
- 3Book 3Chapter iii · — The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of Mr Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning——5 min read
- 4Book 3Chapter iv · — Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise.6 min read
- 5Book 3Chapter v · — The opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, and other matters.9 min read
- 6Book 3Chapter vi · — Containing a better reason still for the before-mentioned opinions.7 min read
- 7Book 3Chapter vii · — In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage.3 min read
- 8Book 3Chapter viii · — A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones.4 min read
- 9Book 3Chapter ix · — Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square.5 min read
- 10Book 3Chapter x · — In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different lights.5 min read
- 1Book 4Chapter i · — Containing five pages of paper.5 min read
- 2Book 4Chapter ii · — A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western.6 min read
- 3Book 4Chapter 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 consequences.5 min read
- 4Book 4Chapter iv · — Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it.6 min read
- 5Book 4Chapter v · — Containing matter accommodated to every taste.10 min read
- 6Book 4Chapter 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 comedies.8 min read
- 7Book 4Chapter vii · — Being the shortest chapter in this book.2 min read
- 8Book 4Chapter viii · — A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style, and which none but the classical reader can taste.10 min read
- 9Book 4Chapter ix · — Containing matter of no very peaceable colour.6 min read
- 10Book 4Chapter 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 her.8 min read
- 11Book 4Chapter xi · — The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep into nature.8 min read
- 12Book 4Chapter xii · — Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the preceding chapter.6 min read
- 13Book 4Chapter 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. —6 min read
- 14Book 4Chapter xiv · — The arrival of a surgeon.—His operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid.11 min read
- 1Book 5Chapter i · — Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it is introduced.8 min read
- 2Book 5Chapter 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 eye.9 min read
- 3Book 5Chapter iii · — Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing.5 min read
- 4Book 5Chapter iv · — A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident.6 min read
- 5Book 5Chapter v · — A very long chapter, containing a very great incident.15 min read
- 6Book 5Chapter 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 love.11 min read
- 7Book 5Chapter vii · — In which Mr Allworthy appears on a sick-bed.10 min read
- 8Book 5Chapter viii · — Containing matter rather natural than pleasing.10 min read
- 9Book 5Chapter 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.”8 min read
- 10Book 5Chapter 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 incontinency.6 min read
- 11Book 5Chapter 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 iron.6 min read
- 12Book 5Chapter 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 producing.8 min read
- 1Book 6Chapter i · — Of love.6 min read
- 2Book 6Chapter 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 advantages.11 min read
- 3Book 6Chapter iii · — Containing two defiances to the critics.8 min read
- 4Book 6Chapter iv · — Containing sundry curious matters.4 min read
- 5Book 6Chapter v · — In which is related what passed between Sophia and her aunt.9 min read
- 6Book 6Chapter 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 reader.6 min read
- 7Book 6Chapter 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 length.8 min read
- 8Book 6Chapter viii · — The meeting between Jones and Sophia.4 min read
- 9Book 6Chapter ix · — Being of a much more tempestuous kind than the former.9 min read
- 10Book 6Chapter x · — In which Mr Western visits Mr Allworthy.9 min read
- 11Book 6Chapter xi · — A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader.4 min read
- 12Book 6Chapter xii · — Containing love-letters, &c.8 min read
- 13Book 6Chapter 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 conscience.8 min read
- 14Book 6Chapter xiv · — A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister.4 min read
- 1Book 7Chapter i · — A comparison between the world and the stage.7 min read
- 2Book 7Chapter ii · — Containing a conversation which Mr Jones had with himself.4 min read
- 3Book 7Chapter iii · — Containing several dialogues.10 min read
- 4Book 7Chapter iv · — A picture of a country gentlewoman taken from the life.5 min read
- 5Book 7Chapter v · — The generous behaviour of Sophia towards her aunt.6 min read
- 6Book 7Chapter vi · — Containing great variety of matter.10 min read
- 7Book 7Chapter vii · — A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs Honour.9 min read
- 8Book 7Chapter viii · — Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon kind.7 min read
- 9Book 7Chapter 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 and8 min read
- 10Book 7Chapter x · — Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but low.10 min read
- 11Book 7Chapter xi · — The adventure of a company of soldiers.7 min read
- 12Book 7Chapter xii · — The adventure of a company of officers.13 min read
- 13Book 7Chapter xiii · — Containing the great address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant.11 min read
- 14Book 7Chapter xiv · — A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone.12 min read
- 15Book 7Chapter xv · — The conclusion of the foregoing adventure.8 min read
- 1Book 8Chapter i · — A wonderful long chapter concerning the marvellous; being much the longest of all our introductory chapters.13 min read
- 2Book 8Chapter ii · — In which the landlady pays a visit to Mr Jones.7 min read
- 3Book 8Chapter iii · — In which the surgeon makes his second appearance.5 min read
- 4Book 8Chapter 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 excepted.7 min read
- 5Book 8Chapter v · — A dialogue between Mr Jones and the barber.8 min read
- 6Book 8Chapter vi · — In which more of the talents of Mr Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was.7 min read
- 7Book 8Chapter 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 landlady.7 min read
- 8Book 8Chapter viii · — Jones arrives at Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; the character of that house, and of a petty-fogger which he there meets with.9 min read
- 9Book 8Chapter 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 fatal11 min read
- 10Book 8Chapter x · — In which our travellers meet with a very extraordinary adventure.15 min read
- 11Book 8Chapter xi · — In which the Man of the Hill begins to relate his history.17 min read
- 12Book 8Chapter xii · — In which the Man of the Hill continues his history.11 min read
- 13Book 8Chapter xiii · — In which the foregoing story is farther continued.13 min read
- 14Book 8Chapter xiv · — In which the Man of the Hill concludes his history.15 min read
- 15Book 8Chapter xv · — A brief history of Europe; and a curious discourse between Mr Jones and the Man of the Hill.10 min read
- 1Book 9Chapter i · — Of those who lawfully may, and of those who may not, write such histories as this.10 min read
- 2Book 9Chapter ii · — Containing a very surprizing adventure indeed, which Mr Jones met with in his walk with the Man of the Hill.8 min read
- 3Book 9Chapter iii · — The arrival of Mr Jones with his lady at the inn; with a very full description of the battle of Upton.10 min read
- 4Book 9Chapter 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 parties.8 min read
- 5Book 9Chapter v · — An apology for all heroes who have good stomachs, with a description of a battle of the amorous kind.8 min read
- 6Book 9Chapter vi · — A friendly conversation in the kitchen, which had a very common, though not very friendly, conclusion.10 min read
- 7Book 9Chapter vii · — Containing a fuller account of Mrs Waters, and by what means she came into that distressful situation from which she was rescued by Jones.8 min read
- 1Book 10Chapter i · — Containing instructions very necessary to be perused by modern critics.5 min read
- 2Book 10Chapter ii · — Containing the arrival of an Irish gentleman, with very extraordinary adventures which ensued at the inn.10 min read
- 3Book 10Chapter 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 teach11 min read
- 4Book 10Chapter iv · — Containing infallible nostrums for procuring universal disesteem and hatred.6 min read
- 5Book 10Chapter v · — Showing who the amiable lady, and her unamiable maid, were.9 min read
- 6Book 10Chapter vi · — Containing, among other things, the ingenuity of Partridge, the madness of Jones, and the folly of Fitzpatrick.8 min read
- 7Book 10Chapter vii · — In which are concluded the adventures that happened at the inn at Upton.8 min read
- 8Book 10Chapter viii · — In which the history goes backward.8 min read
- 9Book 10Chapter ix · — The escape of Sophia.13 min read
- 1Book 11Chapter i · — A crust for the critics.8 min read
- 2Book 11Chapter ii · — The adventures which Sophia met with after her leaving Upton.13 min read
- 3Book 11Chapter iii · — A very short chapter, in which however is a sun, a moon, a star, and an angel.4 min read
- 4Book 11Chapter iv · — The history of Mrs Fitzpatrick.10 min read
- 5Book 11Chapter v · — In which the history of Mrs Fitzpatrick is continued.9 min read
- 6Book 11Chapter vi · — In which the mistake of the landlord throws Sophia into a dreadful consternation.7 min read
- 7Book 11Chapter vii · — In which Mrs Fitzpatrick concludes her history.14 min read
- 8Book 11Chapter viii · — A dreadful alarm in the inn, with the arrival of an unexpected friend of Mrs Fitzpatrick.12 min read
- 9Book 11Chapter 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 their8 min read
- 10Book 11Chapter x · — Containing a hint or two concerning virtue, and a few more concerning suspicion.8 min read
- 1Book 12Chapter i · — Showing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modern author, and what is to be considered as lawful prize.5 min read
- 2Book 12Chapter ii · — In which, though the squire doth not find his daughter, something is found which puts an end to his pursuit.7 min read
- 3Book 12Chapter iii · — The departure of Jones from Upton, with what passed between him and Partridge on the road.9 min read
- 4Book 12Chapter iv · — The adventure of a beggar-man.8 min read
- 5Book 12Chapter v · — Containing more adventures which Mr Jones and his companion met on the road.8 min read
- 6Book 12Chapter vi · — From which it may be inferred that the best things are liable to be misunderstood and misinterpreted.6 min read
- 7Book 12Chapter vii · — Containing a remark or two of our own and many more of the good company assembled in the kitchen.10 min read
- 8Book 12Chapter viii · — In which fortune seems to have been in a better humour with Jones than we have hitherto seen her.8 min read
- 9Book 12Chapter ix · — Containing little more than a few odd observations.6 min read
- 10Book 12Chapter x · — In which Mr Jones and Mr Dowling drink a bottle together.9 min read
- 11Book 12Chapter xi · — The disasters which befel Jones on his departure for Coventry; with the sage remarks of Partridge.5 min read
- 12Book 12Chapter xii · — Relates that Mr Jones continued his journey, contrary to the advice of Partridge, with what happened on that occasion.15 min read
- 13Book 12Chapter xiii · — A dialogue between Jones and Partridge.9 min read
- 14Book 12Chapter xiv · — What happened to Mr Jones in his journey from St Albans.7 min read
- 1Book 13Chapter i · — An Invocation.5 min read
- 2Book 13Chapter ii · — What befel Mr Jones on his arrival in London.10 min read
- 3Book 13Chapter iii · — A project of Mrs Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston.6 min read
- 4Book 13Chapter iv · — Which consists of visiting.5 min read
- 5Book 13Chapter 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 daughters.10 min read
- 6Book 13Chapter vi · — What arrived while the company were at breakfast, with some hints concerning the government of daughters.11 min read
- 7Book 13Chapter vii · — Containing the whole humours of a masquerade.10 min read
- 8Book 13Chapter viii · — Containing a scene of distress, which will appear very extraordinary to most of our readers.9 min read
- 9Book 13Chapter ix · — Which treats of matters of a very different kind from those in the preceding chapter.7 min read
- 10Book 13Chapter x · — A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some eyes.5 min read
- 11Book 13Chapter xi · — In which the reader will be surprized.12 min read
- 12Book 13Chapter xii · — In which the thirteenth book is concluded.4 min read
- 1Book 14Chapter i · — An essay to prove that an author will write the better for having some knowledge of the subject on which he writes.7 min read
- 2Book 14Chapter ii · — Containing letters and other matters which attend amours.9 min read
- 3Book 14Chapter iii · — Containing various matters.9 min read
- 4Book 14Chapter iv · — Which we hope will be very attentively perused by young people of both sexes.7 min read
- 5Book 14Chapter v · — A short account of the history of Mrs Miller.7 min read
- 6Book 14Chapter vi · — Containing a scene which we doubt not will affect all our readers.10 min read
- 7Book 14Chapter vii · — The interview between Mr Jones and Mr Nightingale.9 min read
- 8Book 14Chapter viii · — What passed between Jones and old Mr Nightingale; with the arrival of a person not yet mentioned in this history.13 min read
- 9Book 14Chapter ix · — Containing strange matters.7 min read
- 10Book 14Chapter x · — A short chapter, which concludes the book.3 min read
- 1Book 15Chapter i · — Too short to need a preface.3 min read
- 2Book 15Chapter ii · — In which is opened a very black design against Sophia.9 min read
- 3Book 15Chapter iii · — A further explanation of the foregoing design.7 min read
- 4Book 15Chapter iv · — By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady is when she applies her eloquence to an ill purpose.3 min read
- 5Book 15Chapter v · — Containing some matters which may affect, and others which may surprize, the reader.12 min read
- 6Book 15Chapter vi · — By what means the squire came to discover his daughter.8 min read
- 7Book 15Chapter vii · — In which various misfortunes befel poor Jones.13 min read
- 8Book 15Chapter viii · — Short and sweet.5 min read
- 9Book 15Chapter ix · — Containing love-letters of several sorts.11 min read
- 10Book 15Chapter x · — Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observations upon them.8 min read
- 11Book 15Chapter xi · — Containing curious, but not unprecedented matter.5 min read
- 12Book 15Chapter xii · — A discovery made by Partridge.6 min read
- 16BOOK XVI.1 min read
- 1Book 16Chapter i · — Of prologues.3 min read
- 2Book 16Chapter ii · — A whimsical adventure which befel the squire, with the distressed situation of Sophia.14 min read
- 3Book 16Chapter iii · — What happened to Sophia during her confinement.7 min read
- 4Book 16Chapter iv · — In which Sophia is delivered from her confinement.9 min read
- 5Book 16Chapter v · — In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes to a play with Mrs Miller and Partridge.13 min read
- 6Book 16Chapter vi · — In which the history is obliged to look back.6 min read
- 7Book 16Chapter vii · — In which Mr Western pays a visit to his sister, in company with Mr Blifil.5 min read
- 8Book 16Chapter viii · — Schemes of Lady Bellaston for the ruin of Jones.7 min read
- 9Book 16Chapter ix · — In which Jones pays a visit to Mrs Fitzpatrick.9 min read
- 10Book 16Chapter x · — The consequence of the preceding visit.6 min read
- 17BOOK XVII.1 min read
- 1Book 17Chapter i · — Containing a portion of introductory writing.3 min read
- 2Book 17Chapter ii · — The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs Miller.7 min read
- 3Book 17Chapter iii · — The arrival of Mr Western, with some matters concerning the paternal authority.14 min read
- 4Book 17Chapter iv · — An extraordinary scene between Sophia and her aunt.9 min read
- 5Book 17Chapter v · — Mrs Miller and Mr Nightingale visit Jones in the prison.6 min read
- 6Book 17Chapter vi · — In which Mrs Miller pays a visit to Sophia.6 min read
- 7Book 17Chapter vii · — A pathetic scene between Mr Allworthy and Mrs Miller.6 min read
- 8Book 17Chapter viii · — Containing various matters.11 min read
- 9Book 17Chapter ix · — What happened to Mr Jones in the prison.11 min read
- 18BOOK XVIII.1 min read
- 1Book 18Chapter i · — A farewel to the reader.3 min read
- 2Book 18Chapter ii · — Containing a very tragical incident.10 min read
- 3Book 18Chapter iii · — Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange discovery that he made on that occasion.9 min read
- 4Book 18Chapter iv · — Containing two letters in very different stiles.7 min read
- 5Book 18Chapter v · — In which the history is continued.10 min read
- 6Book 18Chapter vi · — In which the history is farther continued7 min read
- 7Book 18Chapter vii · — Continuation of the history.9 min read
- 8Book 18Chapter viii · — Further continuation.16 min read
- 9Book 18Chapter ix · — A further continuation.13 min read
- 10Book 18Chapter x · — Wherein the history begins to draw towards a conclusion.11 min read
- 11Book 18Chapter xi · — The history draws nearer to a conclusion.12 min read
- 12Book 18Chapter xii · — Approaching still nearer to the end.12 min read
- ·Book 18Chapter the last.10 min read
KEEP EXPLORING