W. Somerset Maugham's Ten Novels and Their Authors
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
Henry Fielding
5 mins to start
22 hrs to read

Contents

Dedication
5 mins
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.
I - The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the feast.
3 mins
II - A short description of Squire Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss Bridget Allworthy, his sister.
2 mins
III - An odd accident which befell Mr. Allworthy at his return home. The decent behaviour of Mrs. Deborah Wilkins, with some proper animadversions on bastards.
5 mins
IV - The reader’s neck brought into danger by a description; his escape; and the great condescension of Miss Bridget Allworthy.
4 mins
V - Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them.
2 mins
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.
5 mins
VII - Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the author.
6 mins
VIII - A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah; containing more amusement, but less instruction, than the former.
3 mins
IX - Containing matters which will surprise the reader.
3 mins
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.
5 mins
XI - Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning falling in love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudential inducements to matrimony.
6 mins
XII - Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find in it.
4 mins
XIII - Which concludes the first book; with an instance of ingratitude, which, we hope, will appear unnatural.
4 mins
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.
I - Showing what kind of a history this is: what it is like, and what it is not like.
2 mins
II - Religious cautions against showing too much favour to bastards; and a great discovery made by Mrs. Deborah Wilkins.
3 mins
III - The description of a domestic government founded upon rules directly contrary to those of Aristotle.
5 mins
IV - Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather duels, that were ever recorded in domestic history.
7 mins
V - Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and reflection of the reader.
7 mins
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.
9 mins
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.
6 mins
VIII - A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife, which hath never been known to fail in the most desperate cases.
2 mins
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, etc., and an epitaph in the true style.
6 mins
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 the reader may pick up some hints concerning the educ
I - Containing little or nothing.
2 mins
II - The hero of this great history appears with very bad omens. A little tale of so
8 mins
III - The character of Mr. Square the philosopher, and of Mr. Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning—
3 mins
IV - Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise.
4 mins
V - The opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, and other matters.
7 mins
VI - Containing a better reason still for the before-mentioned opinions.
5 mins
VII - In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage.
2 mins
VIII - A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones.
3 mins
IX - Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square.
4 mins
X - In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different lights.
4 mins
Book IV - Containing the time of a year.
I - Containing five pages of paper.
4 mins
II - A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western.
4 mins
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.
4 mins
IV - Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it.
4 mins
V - Containing matter accommodated to every taste.
8 mins
VI - An apology for the insensibility of Mr. Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia
6 mins
VII - Being the shortest chapter in this book.
1 min
VIII - A battle sung by the Muse in the Homerican style, and which none but the classical reader can taste.
8 mins
IX - Containing matter of no very peaceable colour.
4 mins
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.
6 mins
XI - The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep into nature.
7 mins
XII - Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the preceding chapter.
4 mins
XIII - A dreadful accident which befell 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.
4 mins
XIV - The arrival of a surgeon.—His operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid.
8 mins
Book V - Containing a portion of time somewhat longer than half a year.
I - Of
5 mins
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.
7 mins
III - Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing.
4 mins
IV - A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident.
4 mins
V - A very long chapter, containing a very great incident.
12 mins
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.
8 mins
VII - In which Mr. Allworthy appears on a sickbed.
8 mins
VIII - Containing matter rather natural than pleasing.
8 mins
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.”
6 mins
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.
5 mins
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.
4 mins
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.
6 mins
Book VI - Containing about three weeks.
I - Of love.
4 mins
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.
9 mins
III - Containing two defiances to the critics.
6 mins
IV - Containing sundry curious matters.
3 mins
V - In which is related what passed between Sophia and her aunt.
7 mins
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.
4 mins
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.
6 mins
VIII - The meeting between Jones and Sophia.
3 mins
IX - Being of a much more tempestuous kind than the former.
7 mins
X - In which Mr. Western visits Mr. Allworthy.
7 mins
XI - A short chapter; but which contains sufficient matter to affect the good-natured reader.
3 mins
XII - Containing love-letters,
5 mins
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.
6 mins
XIV - A short chapter, containing a short dialogue between Squire Western and his sister.
2 mins
Book VII - Containing three days.
I - A comparison between the world and the stage.
5 mins
II - Containing a conversation which Mr. Jones had with himself.
2 mins
III - Containing several dialogues.
8 mins
IV - A picture of a country gentlewoman taken from the life.
3 mins
V - The generous behaviour of Sophia towards her aunt.
4 mins
VI - Containing great variety of matter.
8 mins
VII - A strange resolution of Sophia, and a more strange stratagem of Mrs. Honour.
7 mins
VIII - Containing scenes of altercation, of no very uncommon kind.
5 mins
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 and filial affection.
6 mins
X - Containing several matters, natural enough perhaps, but low.
8 mins
XI - The adventure of a company of soldiers.
6 mins
XII - The adventure of a company of officers.
10 mins
XIII - Containing the great address of the landlady, the great learning of a surgeon, and the solid skill in casuistry of the worthy lieutenant.
9 mins
XIV - A most dreadful chapter indeed; and which few readers ought to venture upon in an evening, especially when alone.
9 mins
XV - The conclusion of the foregoing adventure.
6 mins
Book VIII - Containing about two days.
I - A wonderful long chapter concerning the marvellous; being much the longest of all our introductory chapters.
11 mins
II - In which the landlady pays a visit to Mr. Jones.
5 mins
III - In which the surgeon makes his second appearance.
3 mins
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.
6 mins
V - A dialogue between Mr. Jones and the barber.
6 mins
VI - In which more of the talents of Mr. Benjamin will appear, as well as who this extraordinary person was.
6 mins
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.
5 mins
VIII - Jones arrives at Gloucester, and goes to the Bell; the character of that house, and of a pettifogger which he there meets with.
7 mins
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 fatal discovery to his friend.
9 mins
X - In which our travellers meet with a very extraordinary adventure.
12 mins
XI - In which the Man of the Hill begins to relate his history.
14 mins
XII - In which the Man of the Hill continues his history.
9 mins
XIII - In which the foregoing story is farther continued.
10 mins
XIV - In which the Man of the Hill concludes his history.
10 mins
XV - A brief history of Europe; and a curious discourse between Mr. Jones and the Man of the Hill.
8 mins
Book IX - Containing twelve hours.
I - Of those who lawfully may, and of those who may not, write such histories as this.
7 mins
II - Containing a very surprising adventure indeed, which Mr. Jones met with in his walk with the Man of the Hill.
6 mins
III - The arrival of Mr. Jones with his lady at the inn; with a very full description of the battle of Upton.
8 mins
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.
6 mins
V - An apology for all heroes who have good stomachs, with a description of a battle of the amorous kind.
6 mins
VI - A friendly conversation in the kitchen, which had a very common, though not very friendly, conclusion.
8 mins
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.
6 mins
Book X - In which the history goes forward about twelve hours.
I - Containing instructions very necessary to be perused by modern critics.
3 mins
II - Containing the arrival of an Irish gentleman, with very extraordinary adventures which ensued at the inn.
8 mins
III - A dialogue between the landlady and Susan the chambermaid, proper to be read by all innkeepers and their servants; with the arrival, and affable behaviour of a beautiful young lady
8 mins
IV - Containing infallible nostrums for procuring universal disesteem and hatred.
4 mins
V - Showing who the amiable lady, and her unamiable maid, were.
7 mins
VI - Containing, among other things, the ingenuity of Partridge, the madness of Jones, and the folly of Fitzpatrick.
6 mins
VII - In which are concluded the adventures that happened at the inn at Upton.
6 mins
VIII - In which the history goes backward.
6 mins
IX - The escape of Sophia.
10 mins
Book XI - Containing about three days.
I - A crust for the critics.
6 mins
II - The adventures which Sophia met with after her leaving Upton.
10 mins
III - A very short chapter, in which, however, is a sun, a moon, a star, and an angel.
3 mins
IV - The history of Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
8 mins
V - In which the history of Mrs. Fitzpatrick is continued.
6 mins
VI - In which the mistake of the landlord throws Sophia into a dreadful consternation.
5 mins
VII - In which Mrs. Fitzpatrick concludes her history.
12 mins
VIII - A dreadful alarm in the inn, with the arrival of an unexpected friend of Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
9 mins
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 their arrival at London
6 mins
X - Containing a hint or two concerning virtue, and a few more concerning suspicion.
6 mins
Book XII - Containing the same individual time with the former.
I - Showing what is to be deemed plagiarism in a modern author, and what is to be considered as lawful prize.
3 mins
II - In which, though the squire doth not find his daughter, something is found which puts an end to his pursuit.
5 mins
III - The departure of Jones from Upton, with what passed between him and Partridge on the road.
7 mins
IV - The adventure of a beggar-man.
6 mins
V - Containing more adventures which Mr. Jones and his companion met on the road.
6 mins
VI - From which it may be inferred that the best things are liable to be misunderstood and misinterpreted.
4 mins
VII - Containing a remark or two of our own and many more of the good company assembled in the kitchen.
8 mins
VIII - In which Fortune seems to have been in a better humour with Jones than we have hitherto seen her.
6 mins
IX - Containing little more than a few odd observations.
5 mins
X - In which Mr. Jones and Mr. Dowling drink a bottle together.
6 mins
XI - The disasters which befell Jones on his departure for Coventry; with the sage remarks of Partridge.
4 mins
XII - Relates that Mr. Jones continued his journey, contrary to the advice of Partridge, with what happened on that occasion.
12 mins
XIII - A dialogue between Jones and Partridge.
7 mins
XIV - What happened to Mr. Jones in his journey from St. Albans.
5 mins
Book XIII - Containing the space of twelve days.
I - An Invocation.
4 mins
II - What befell Mr. Jones on his arrival in London.
8 mins
III - A project of Mrs. Fitzpatrick, and her visit to Lady Bellaston.
4 mins
IV - Which consists of visiting.
3 mins
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.
7 mins
VI - What arrived while the company were at breakfast, with some hints concerning the government of daughters.
9 mins
VII - Containing the whole humours of a masquerade.
8 mins
VIII - Containing a scene of distress, which will appear very extraordinary to most of our readers.
7 mins
IX - Which treats of matters of a very different kind from those in the preceding chapter.
5 mins
X - A chapter which, though short, may draw tears from some eyes.
3 mins
XI - In which the reader will be surprised.
10 mins
XII - In which the thirteenth book is concluded.
3 mins
Book XIV - Containing two days.
I - An essay to prove that an author will write the better for having some knowledge of the subject on which he writes.
5 mins
II - Containing letters and other matters which attend amours.
6 mins
III - Containing various matters.
6 mins
IV - Which we hope will be very attentively perused by young people of both sexes.
5 mins
V - A short account of the history of Mrs. Miller.
5 mins
VI - Containing a scene which we doubt not will affect all our readers.
7 mins
VII - The interview between Mr. Jones and Mr. Nightingale.
7 mins
VIII - What passed between Jones and old Mr. Nightingale; with the arrival of a person not yet mentioned in this history.
10 mins
IX - Containing strange matters.
5 mins
X - A short chapter, which concludes the book.
2 mins
Book XV - In which the history advances about two days.
I - Too short to need a preface.
1 min
II - In which is opened a very black design against Sophia.
7 mins
III - A further explanation of the foregoing design.
5 mins
IV - By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady is when she applies her eloquence to an ill purpose.
2 mins
V - Containing some matters which may affect, and others which may surprise, the reader.
10 mins
VI - By what means the squire came to discover his daughter.
5 mins
VII - In which various misfortunes befell poor Jones.
10 mins
VIII - Short and sweet.
3 mins
IX - Containing love-letters of several sorts.
6 mins
X - Consisting partly of facts, and partly of observations upon them.
4 mins
XI - Containing curious, but not unprecedented matter.
2 mins
XII - A discovery made by Partridge.
4 mins
Book XVI - Containing the space of five days.
I - Of prologues.
2 mins
II - A whimsical adventure which befell the squire, with the distressed situation of Sophia.
11 mins
III - What happened to Sophia during her confinement.
3 mins
IV - In which Sophia is delivered from her confinement.
7 mins
V - In which Jones receives a letter from Sophia, and goes to a play with Mrs. Miller and Partridge.
9 mins
VI - In which the history is obliged to look back.
4 mins
VII - In which Mr. Western pays a visit to his sister, in company with Mr. Blifil.
3 mins
VIII - Schemes of Lady Bellaston for the ruin of Jones.
5 mins
IX - In which Jones pays a visit to Mrs. Fitzpatrick.
7 mins
X - The consequence of the preceding visit.
4 mins
Book XVII - Containing three days.
I - Containing a portion of introductory writing.
2 mins
II - The generous and grateful behaviour of Mrs. Miller.
5 mins
III - The arrival of Mr. Western, with some matters concerning the paternal authority.
11 mins
IV - An extraordinary scene between Sophia and her aunt.
7 mins
V - Mrs. Miller and Mr. Nightingale visit Jones in the prison.
5 mins
VI - In which Mrs. Miller pays a visit to Sophia.
5 mins
VII - A pathetic scene between Mr. Allworthy and Mrs. Miller.
4 mins
VIII - Containing various matters.
9 mins
IX - What happened to Mr. Jones in the prison.
9 mins
Book XVIII - Containing about six days.
I - A farewell to the reader.
2 mins
II - Containing a very tragical incident.
7 mins
III - Allworthy visits old Nightingale; with a strange discovery that he made on that occasion.
7 mins
IV - Containing two letters in very different styles.
1 min
V - In which the history is continued.
8 mins
VI - In which the history is farther continued.
5 mins
VII - Continuation of the history.
7 mins
VIII - Further continuation.
13 mins
IX - A further continuation.
10 mins
X - Wherein the history begins to draw towards a conclusion.
9 mins
XI - The history draws nearer to a conclusion.
10 mins
XII - Approaching still nearer to the end.
10 mins
Chapter the Last - In which the history is concluded.
8 mins
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Dedication
5 mins to read
1465 words
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