The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling

History of Tom Jones, a
Foundling, The

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Title: The History of Tom Jones, a foundling
Author: Henry Fielding

Release Date: September, 2004 [EBook #6593] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on December 29,
2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE
HISTORY OF TOM JONES, A FOUNDLING ***

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Henry Fielding
The History of Tom Jones, a foundling.

CONTENTS
DEDICATION
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.

Chapter i
-- The introduction to the work, or bill of fare to the feast.

Chapter ii
-- A short description of squire Allworthy, and a fuller account of Miss
Bridget Allworthy, his sister.

Chapter 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.

Chapter iv
-- The reader's neck brought into danger by a description; his escape;
and the great condescension of Miss Bridget Allworthy.

Chapter v
-- Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon
observation upon them.

Chapter 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.

Chapter vii
-- Containing such grave matter, that the reader cannot laugh once
through the whole chapter, unless peradventure he should laugh at the
author.

Chapter viii
-- A dialogue between Mesdames Bridget and Deborah; containing
more amusement, but less instruction, than the former.

Chapter ix
-- Containing matters which will surprize the reader.

Chapter 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.

Chapter xi
-- Containing many rules, and some examples, concerning falling in

love: descriptions of beauty, and other more prudential inducements to
matrimony.

Chapter xii
-- Containing what the reader may, perhaps, expect to find in it.

Chapter xiii
-- Which concludes the first book; with an instance of ingratitude,
which, we hope, will appear unnatural.
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.

Chapter i
-- Showing what kind of a history this is; what it is like, and what it is
not like.

Chapter ii
-- Religious cautions against showing too much favour to bastards; and
a great discovery made by Mrs Deborah Wilkins.

Chapter iii
-- The description of a domestic government founded upon rules
directly contrary to those of Aristotle.

Chapter iv
-- Containing one of the most bloody battles, or rather duels, that were
ever recorded in domestic history.

Chapter v
-- Containing much matter to exercise the judgment and reflection of
the reader.

Chapter 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.

Chapter 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.

Chapter viii
-- A receipt to regain the lost affections of a wife, which hath never
been known to fail in the most desperate cases.

Chapter ix
--