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History of Tom Jones
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Manufacturer: Naxos Audio Books
Author: Henry Fielding
Publisher: Naxos Audio Books
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Our Price: $41.98
You Save: $ ( % )
Usually ships in 2 to 3 weeks
Manufacturer: Naxos Audio Books
Author: Henry Fielding
Publisher: Naxos Audio Books
Average Customer Rating:
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History of Tom Jones Description
Binding: Audio CD
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9789626343319
Format: Audiobook
ISBN: 9626343311
Label: Naxos Audio Books
Manufacturer: Naxos Audio Books
Number Of Discs: 6
Publication Date: 2004-11
Publisher: Naxos Audio Books
Product Release Date: 2005-01-01
Studio: Naxos Audio Books
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9789626343319
Format: Audiobook
ISBN: 9626343311
Label: Naxos Audio Books
Manufacturer: Naxos Audio Books
Number Of Discs: 6
Publication Date: 2004-11
Publisher: Naxos Audio Books
Product Release Date: 2005-01-01
Studio: Naxos Audio Books
Editorial Review of History of Tom Jones
Tom Jones (1749) is rightly regarded as Fielding's greatest work, and one of the first and most influential of English novels. At the center of one of the most ingenious plots in English fiction stands a hero whose actions were, in 1749, as shocking as they are funny today. This carefully modernized edition is based on Fielding's emended fourth edition text and offers the most thorough Notes, Maps, and Bibliography.
Customer Reviews of History of Tom Jones
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Enduring Classic
Review: [...]
RELATED MATERIAL
[...]
The History of Tom Jones
A Foundling by Henry Fielding
originally published 1749
It's been said that Tom Jones could be considered the first novel. I've read the same thing about Moll Flanders, so I don't take such statements very seriously- but the fact is, Tom Jones is one of the first novels. More like two novels- at 7 to 9 hundred pages long, Jones is an epic slog through English society circa 1750.
Whenever you read 18th century literature you need to ask yourself, "Is there some narrative form that this copies of which I am presently unaware?" In the case of Tom Jones, the answer is, "Yes." and that form is <[...]>. The basic idea of picaresque as applied to the novel is "Hero walks around and sees different types of people." Picaresque maintains a fascination with the grotesque and the odd ball- think of Hunter Thompson's characterizations of Vegas Tourists in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" for a modern analogue.
People often conflate the 18th century with the later Victorian period, but I can assure you that the 18th century was a far bawdier place. Indeed, the early novels: this one, Moll Flanders- Joseph Andrews, all share ribald plot points- both Flanders and Jones have plot points involving explicit allegations of parent/child incest. In Jones, the entire plot revolves around his desire to marry Sophia. That doesn't stop him from banging multiple chicks along the way.
The length of the novel means that Fielding has ample opportunity for human observation, dialect and moral teachings. You simply can't read 18th century British literature without discussing the morality issues. Although it is presently regarded highly for it's historical value, a debate over the artisitic merit is long standing:
Few novels, indeed, have aroused such stark and abiding evaluative disagreements as 'Tom Jones'. From the first, what some readers hailed as a refreshingly broad-spirited tolerance was denounced by others, like Richardson, as moral coarseness and special pleading. Coleridge's admiration for the book's plot (shared by Smollett and Thackeray) as one of the three most perfect in literature ... was the reverse of Dr Johnson's or Frank Kermode's dismissal of it as clockwork. The chatty asides and prefatory discourses which charmed Empson were so disliked by Somerset Maugham that his own edition of 'Tom Jones' simply left the latter out.[...]DOREEN ROBERTS, INTRODUCTION TO WORDSWORTH CLASSIC EDITION)
I def. like the "lack of fussiness" that Jones brings to his description. I do agree with Maugham's decision to omit the chatty "prefatory discourses"- I almost never understood what he was talking about.
I very much noticed Fielding's classical education at work. This is a time period when culture fields were establishing new archetypes, independent of Roman/Greece and Renaissance examples but Tom Jones is attached to those traditions more thoroughly then Robinson Crusoe, which exists largely outside of classical reference points and allusions.
Ultimately, the development of the novel as a literary form is all about plot development, and it is for the excellent development here that Jones secures his place in the canon. In the words of Roberts, again:
the main unity-promoting device is the use nearly of all the secondary characters to advance an ethos and illustrate a scheme of moral taxonomy. Fielding's moral vision operates for example between the moral polarities of appearance and reality, action (what one sees) and motive (what one deduces), reasoned principle and instinct, prudence and impulsiveness, and suspicion and trust.
It's the link between the morality lessons and plot points that make a modern novel.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hilarious, satiric classic
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. The plot follows the ups and downs of Tom's fortunes as he travels the English countryside. While this in itself is entertaining and very well crafted, what sets this book apart is the wit, humor, and observations of the narrator.
We get to meet a rich cast of characters, from all of the social strata of 18th century England. The protagonist, Tom Jones, is a generous, empathetic soul with a heart of gold. His main flaw is his...love of women. His naiveté gets him into trouble on occasion. Most of the characters in this book, whether they hurt or help Tom, do so from selfish motives.
This book, with its intricate plot, is full of wit, humor, and humanity. My only real criticism, and it's a small one, is the heavy reliance on coincidence.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Overweighted classic
Review: Norton Critical Edition edited by Sheridan Baker.
My how he does go on. Fielding's classic tale of morality and manners just keeps yammering on through 761 pages in this edition, with another 170 pages of editorial analysis to follow explain the mountain that preceded.
One of these explicators of Fielding references another who refers to Tom Jones as the most "overrated" of the classics. I wouldn't say overrated, I'd just say overweighted.
About a third of the way through, I lost patience with the asides and the pace of the long dense paragraphs so I could find out if Tom would get the girl or not. Along the way, I'm sure I missed valuable classic information, and my rating probably says more about my modern paucity of attention than about the quality of Fielding's book.
Another editorialist says that everyone who reads Tom Jones reads it more than once. If time were an infinite commodity, I might.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: History of Tom Jones
Review: The product was delayed a bit- even tho I thought I had asked for overnight-
Product was in perfect shape. Interesting packing tho- inside the box was a box of cereal- small box of raisin bran- appeared to be used as a packing to take of the space in the box to secure the book- hmmm can't afford packing chips- or even newspaper frankly I was just a little grossed out and worried that there might be roaches or something because the box was slightly open- Julie Riley
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Now that's what I call satire...
Review: "Soon after its 1749 publication, Tom Jones was condemned for being "lewd," and even blamed for several earthquakes. But what really riled its critics was its supremely funny satirical attack on eighteenth-century British society and its follies and hypocrisies - which, of course, are very much like our own." From the publisher
A Love Story? Adventure? Sophisticated 18th century humor? A handsome and rambunctious protagonist? I'm In!
This is the lengthy, (maybe a bit too drawn out) history of Fielding's hero, Tom Jones. Found as an infant in the bed of Mr. Allworthy, the wealthy and pious widower who adopts him and raises him as his own.
The enormously Kind Allworthy raises the foundling (orphan) child as his own, much to the chagrin of his super class conscious community, where he is given all the privileges of upper class society (sans the inheritance. In 18th century England, it is illegal for foundlings to be heirs). Fielding's Hero has a heart of gold; he is gallant, chivalrous, with boyish good looks to match-- the only problem is Tom can't seem to keep himself out of trouble. Especially with the ladies. He carries on scandalous affairs--endearingly. He can't seem to control his libido but Fielding never paints his intentions as dishonorable. By no means is he innocent; Jones is just a nice guy who finds himself in hilarious situations with women because he is irresistable...and HORNY.
Through the cunning of Allworthy's nephew Blifil, and his own folly, he gets turned out of doors by Mr. Allworthy, just as his beloved Sophia, (the girl next door) is betrothed to his sneaky cousin.
Sophia runs away to London rather than be forced to marry Blifil, while Tom himself encounters some uproarious adventures in his path to London, where he and Sophia's trails meet and he endeavors to win her back. There in London he even discovers his true parentage, and the evil Blifil gets recognized for the conniving sneak he is.
In the end, all is well. It takes Fielding 1000 pages to do so as he pokes fun at 18th century English morals,introduces us to interesting characters, puts Tom in crazy situations, and explores the true meaning of what it is to be "good."
Review Summary: Enduring Classic
Review: [...]
RELATED MATERIAL
[...]
The History of Tom Jones
A Foundling by Henry Fielding
originally published 1749
It's been said that Tom Jones could be considered the first novel. I've read the same thing about Moll Flanders, so I don't take such statements very seriously- but the fact is, Tom Jones is one of the first novels. More like two novels- at 7 to 9 hundred pages long, Jones is an epic slog through English society circa 1750.
Whenever you read 18th century literature you need to ask yourself, "Is there some narrative form that this copies of which I am presently unaware?" In the case of Tom Jones, the answer is, "Yes." and that form is <[...]>. The basic idea of picaresque as applied to the novel is "Hero walks around and sees different types of people." Picaresque maintains a fascination with the grotesque and the odd ball- think of Hunter Thompson's characterizations of Vegas Tourists in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" for a modern analogue.
People often conflate the 18th century with the later Victorian period, but I can assure you that the 18th century was a far bawdier place. Indeed, the early novels: this one, Moll Flanders- Joseph Andrews, all share ribald plot points- both Flanders and Jones have plot points involving explicit allegations of parent/child incest. In Jones, the entire plot revolves around his desire to marry Sophia. That doesn't stop him from banging multiple chicks along the way.
The length of the novel means that Fielding has ample opportunity for human observation, dialect and moral teachings. You simply can't read 18th century British literature without discussing the morality issues. Although it is presently regarded highly for it's historical value, a debate over the artisitic merit is long standing:
Few novels, indeed, have aroused such stark and abiding evaluative disagreements as 'Tom Jones'. From the first, what some readers hailed as a refreshingly broad-spirited tolerance was denounced by others, like Richardson, as moral coarseness and special pleading. Coleridge's admiration for the book's plot (shared by Smollett and Thackeray) as one of the three most perfect in literature ... was the reverse of Dr Johnson's or Frank Kermode's dismissal of it as clockwork. The chatty asides and prefatory discourses which charmed Empson were so disliked by Somerset Maugham that his own edition of 'Tom Jones' simply left the latter out.[...]DOREEN ROBERTS, INTRODUCTION TO WORDSWORTH CLASSIC EDITION)
I def. like the "lack of fussiness" that Jones brings to his description. I do agree with Maugham's decision to omit the chatty "prefatory discourses"- I almost never understood what he was talking about.
I very much noticed Fielding's classical education at work. This is a time period when culture fields were establishing new archetypes, independent of Roman/Greece and Renaissance examples but Tom Jones is attached to those traditions more thoroughly then Robinson Crusoe, which exists largely outside of classical reference points and allusions.
Ultimately, the development of the novel as a literary form is all about plot development, and it is for the excellent development here that Jones secures his place in the canon. In the words of Roberts, again:
the main unity-promoting device is the use nearly of all the secondary characters to advance an ethos and illustrate a scheme of moral taxonomy. Fielding's moral vision operates for example between the moral polarities of appearance and reality, action (what one sees) and motive (what one deduces), reasoned principle and instinct, prudence and impulsiveness, and suspicion and trust.
It's the link between the morality lessons and plot points that make a modern novel.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Hilarious, satiric classic
Review: This is one of the best books I've ever read. The plot follows the ups and downs of Tom's fortunes as he travels the English countryside. While this in itself is entertaining and very well crafted, what sets this book apart is the wit, humor, and observations of the narrator.
We get to meet a rich cast of characters, from all of the social strata of 18th century England. The protagonist, Tom Jones, is a generous, empathetic soul with a heart of gold. His main flaw is his...love of women. His naiveté gets him into trouble on occasion. Most of the characters in this book, whether they hurt or help Tom, do so from selfish motives.
This book, with its intricate plot, is full of wit, humor, and humanity. My only real criticism, and it's a small one, is the heavy reliance on coincidence.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Overweighted classic
Review: Norton Critical Edition edited by Sheridan Baker.
My how he does go on. Fielding's classic tale of morality and manners just keeps yammering on through 761 pages in this edition, with another 170 pages of editorial analysis to follow explain the mountain that preceded.
One of these explicators of Fielding references another who refers to Tom Jones as the most "overrated" of the classics. I wouldn't say overrated, I'd just say overweighted.
About a third of the way through, I lost patience with the asides and the pace of the long dense paragraphs so I could find out if Tom would get the girl or not. Along the way, I'm sure I missed valuable classic information, and my rating probably says more about my modern paucity of attention than about the quality of Fielding's book.
Another editorialist says that everyone who reads Tom Jones reads it more than once. If time were an infinite commodity, I might.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: History of Tom Jones
Review: The product was delayed a bit- even tho I thought I had asked for overnight-
Product was in perfect shape. Interesting packing tho- inside the box was a box of cereal- small box of raisin bran- appeared to be used as a packing to take of the space in the box to secure the book- hmmm can't afford packing chips- or even newspaper frankly I was just a little grossed out and worried that there might be roaches or something because the box was slightly open- Julie Riley
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Now that's what I call satire...
Review: "Soon after its 1749 publication, Tom Jones was condemned for being "lewd," and even blamed for several earthquakes. But what really riled its critics was its supremely funny satirical attack on eighteenth-century British society and its follies and hypocrisies - which, of course, are very much like our own." From the publisher
A Love Story? Adventure? Sophisticated 18th century humor? A handsome and rambunctious protagonist? I'm In!
This is the lengthy, (maybe a bit too drawn out) history of Fielding's hero, Tom Jones. Found as an infant in the bed of Mr. Allworthy, the wealthy and pious widower who adopts him and raises him as his own.
The enormously Kind Allworthy raises the foundling (orphan) child as his own, much to the chagrin of his super class conscious community, where he is given all the privileges of upper class society (sans the inheritance. In 18th century England, it is illegal for foundlings to be heirs). Fielding's Hero has a heart of gold; he is gallant, chivalrous, with boyish good looks to match-- the only problem is Tom can't seem to keep himself out of trouble. Especially with the ladies. He carries on scandalous affairs--endearingly. He can't seem to control his libido but Fielding never paints his intentions as dishonorable. By no means is he innocent; Jones is just a nice guy who finds himself in hilarious situations with women because he is irresistable...and HORNY.
Through the cunning of Allworthy's nephew Blifil, and his own folly, he gets turned out of doors by Mr. Allworthy, just as his beloved Sophia, (the girl next door) is betrothed to his sneaky cousin.
Sophia runs away to London rather than be forced to marry Blifil, while Tom himself encounters some uproarious adventures in his path to London, where he and Sophia's trails meet and he endeavors to win her back. There in London he even discovers his true parentage, and the evil Blifil gets recognized for the conniving sneak he is.
In the end, all is well. It takes Fielding 1000 pages to do so as he pokes fun at 18th century English morals,introduces us to interesting characters, puts Tom in crazy situations, and explores the true meaning of what it is to be "good."