Adventure· United Kingdom
Tom Jones
by Henry FieldingAggregate Editorial Score39/100
Guardian 100 Best Novels
Published 1749608 pagesEnglish
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Tom Jones by Henry Fielding is a landmark work of adventure, first published in 1749. The foundling Tom Jones, good-natured and reckless, pursues love and adventures across England in Fielding's rollicking comic novel. One of the great picaresque novels in English, Tom Jones established the template for the exuberant omniscient narrator who winks at the reader throughout. Themes of love, adventure, class run through the work. The book has received recognition from Guardian 100 Best Novels 1749.
Book Details
About the Category
⚔️ Adventure
Action-driven stories of exploration, danger, and survival.
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🇬🇧 United Kingdom
This book is part of United Kingdom's rich literary tradition.
Explore books from United Kingdom →Editorial Assessment
Tom Jones by Henry Fielding sits within the tradition of adventure that treats language as seriously as plot. Published in 1749 in United Kingdom, it engages with love, adventure, class, comedy in ways that have earned it lasting critical attention.
Among its recognitions: Guardian 100 Best Novels 1749. With an editorial score of 39/100 drawn from 1 independent sources, the book occupies a well-documented position in the critical literature. Its recognition spans international prizes, "best of" lists, and academic surveys.
Readers coming to Tom Jones for the first time will find a work that rewards patience. The book's handling of love, adventure, class, comedy is layered rather than didactic, and a second reading often reveals dimensions the first pass only hinted at.
Within United Kingdom's literary landscape, Henry Fielding occupies a significant position. Tom Jones is both a personal artistic statement and a contribution to a tradition shaped by the country's history and cultural concerns.
About this assessment: Editorial scores are aggregated from 1 independent sources including major literary prizes, critical surveys, and leading publications. Our editorial team reviews and contextualises this data. Rankings reflect critical consensus, not personal opinion or popularity metrics. Learn about our methodology.
Awards & Recognition
Guardian 100 Best Novels
list · global
174921
Henry Fielding is a celebrated author from United Kingdom known for influential works of adventure.
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