Tom Jones,
De geschiedenis van een vondeling.
Boek I.
Bevat zooveel van de geboorte van den vondeling als in het begin van deze geschiedenis noodzakelijk of betamelijk is aan den lezer mede te deelen.
About This Book
The novel traces the life of a foundling raised in a gentleman's household, following his romantic attachment, a sequence of comic misadventures and misunderstandings, and eventual reconciliation and social advancement. Told episodically in a picaresque style, it mixes lively set pieces and pastoral episodes with sharp satire of manners and institutions, guided by an ironic, conversational narrator. Recurring themes include virtue opposed to hypocrisy, tensions of class and authority, and the contrast between natural goodness and affected refinement, with moral reflection woven through the humour and social critique.