Dickensians! discussion

THE HISTORY OF TOM JOMES, A FOUNDLING



Our poll to decide which one of Charles Dickens's own favourite novels will be our group read has now ended. The winner is The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding.

Reading will begin on 15th September, and continue for 2 months, until 14th November.

If you would like to lead, host or co-host this read, please say here! You can organise it however you like within those dates (plus the final one is flexible :) )

*PLEASE NOTE - so as not to offend anyone, please bear in mind that this was written in the 18th century, pre-Victorian sensibilities. It is a romp of a read, and very entertaining; full of satire with the kind of characters Charles Dickens himself went on to perfect. But in keeping with the earlier times, this humorous novel has some quite bawdy passages.

A link to the cast of the dramatisation pictured above is in comment 295.

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling comprises 18 Books in 4 volumes.

Here are the links to the Chapter Titles, Cast of Characters and Summaries, by Debra:

Book 1 (3 posts of information)

Book 2 (3 posts of information)

Book 3 (3 posts of information)

Book 4 (3 posts of information)

Book 5 (3 posts of information)

Book 6 (3 posts of information)

Book 7 (3 posts of information)

Book 8 (3 posts of information)

Book 9 (3 posts of information)

Book 10

Book 11

Book 12

Book 13

Book 14 (2 posts of information)

Book 15 (2 posts of information)

Book 16 (2 posts of information)

Book 17

Book 18 (4 posts of information)


Who's joining in for this one?

Bionic Jean wrote: "Who's joining in for this one?"

I am. :))

I am, too. :-)

I am too! Really looking forward to reading this 18th century romp. I may have to rewatch the marvelous movie with Albert Finney and Susannah York.

Count me in, although I might not be able to contribute until October.

I am in.

I am going to do my best. I’m hoping I can handle both Little Dorrit and Tom Jones. Looking forward to both.

Antoinette, I too will be reading both Little Dorrit and Tom Jones!

We are in this together, Daniela!

Well, the pressure...Little Dorrit and Tom Jones! I'll tip my hat in and do my best as well!

It's brilliant that lots are joining in!

I never saw the earlier film, but can recommend the TV miniseries from 1997:



It's very faithful to the book, and has John Sessions as Henry Fielding himself as narrator, linking the adventures as an invisible bystander. Even these bits are very funny :D It's a delicious satire, and available on DVD. (5 episodes, over 5 hours long)

Names to recognise are Benjamin Whitrow, Celia Imrie, Frances de la Tour, Brian Blessed, Peter Capaldi and so on. There's another still from this at the top of this thread :)

Happy you are joining, Lori. We can do it.

Jean, thanks for the recommendation of the TV series. Amazon has it in the U.S. Looks fun. :))

I've read this twice. You're in for a treat!

Yes Anne, I saw that on IMDB :) Apparently a few scenes have been cut for the US, but not too many (a few with Blifil - a boring character - and one censored, which I'm not surprised about). I'm pretty sure you'll all enjoy it. It only came my way recently too :)

One bit of trivia - in an hilarious fight scene, Brian Blessed punched Peter Capaldi so hard that he really did knock him out! If you've only ever seen Peter Capaldi as Dr. Who, the character he plays here is very, very different!

Can we have a host please?

You could just divide it up into chunks, or have a thread for spoilers and one without - it doesn't have to be a lot of work :)

Bionic Jean wrote: "Yes Anne, I saw that on IMDB :) Apparently a few scenes have been cut for the US, but not too many (a few with Blifil - a boring character - and one censored, which I'm not surprised about). I'm pr..."

Jean, we get the PG version. I didn't realize that our censors are stricter than yours.

I remember that TV series, Jean! I loved it so much that’s when I read the book. I don’t think I’ll have time to reread it though.

I would love to join this read, but I don’t think I will be able to this fall along with Little Dorrit and multiple other books I have on my plate.

I'm in! will be a little irregular the first few weeks due to travel.

Anne (On semi-hiatus) wrote: "I didn't realize that our censors are stricter than yours ..."

Yes, they're quite a bit different. If you ever buy a DVD with alternative endings, the US one is softer or slightly more sentimental, and the British one more downbeat or chilling. British ones are often darker and US cuts more optimistic. For one of my old Science Fiction movies, the US version has a lot of the technical parts cut out, and includes a lot more filmage of American troops: jeeps and planes which is not in the British cut. But for something like this, the US would cut out some of the nudity and sexual references. Some books are different too.

I'm really pleased to see so many, and still hope most will be able to join in with this. You never know, even of you think you can't fit it in, you might feel like a funny novel alongside your others - and you could always try a free version on kindle.

And as Janelle says, the TV miniseries is hugely enjoyable :)

Jean wrote: "Yes, they're quite a bit different. If you ever buy a DVD with alternative endings, the US one is softer..."

Jean, thanks for the explanation. Unfortunately, it makes perfect sense.

I’m going to attempt Little Dorrit and this too! Great to see so many people joining in!

Does anyone have a favorite paperback edition of this book? Or a warning of which editions to avoid? I've been disappointed before when I purchased a classic novel only to find parts had been left out.

Good question Bridget :)

I’ll join in this buddy read, too, although this on top of Little Dorrit might be a big ask! I’ll have a go though.

It's great to see so many joining in our next group read :)

Would someone be willing to lead this one, please?

Bionic Jean wrote: "It's great to see so many joining in our next group read :)

Would someone be willing to lead this one, please?"

What's the timeline for this book? I could lead after mid October.

Angela wrote: "What's the timeline for this book? I could lead after mid October."

Thank you so much Angela! It's 15th September, for 2 months, until 14th November (in the first comment for convenience when you're planning).

Can anyone help Angela and take the second month please?

Daniela wrote: "Antoinette, I too will be reading both Little Dorrit and Tom Jones!"

Me possibly three 😬

Bionic Jean wrote: "Angela wrote: "What's the timeline for this book? I could lead after mid October."

Thank you so much Angela! It's 15th September, for 2 months, until 14th November (in the first comment for conven..."

By the second month you mean Sept 15 - Oct 15, right?

That's your bit, Angela, and on and after Oct 15th it's up for grabs :)

It seems to be in chapters within books.

Book 1 has 13 chapters
Book 2 has 9 chapters
Boom 3 has 10 chapters
Book 4 has 14 chapters
Book 5 has 12 chapters
Book 6 has 14 chapters
Book 7 has 15 chapters
Book 8 has 14 chapters
Book 9 has 7 chapters

and so on right up to Book 18!

So maybe if you want to chop it up for a timetable, you could go by Books. In which case you would have Books 1-9, that's 2 or 3 Books a week. How would that be?

2 days to kick-off!

Still hoping for a co-host for Angela, but I'll post a suggested reading timetable tomorrow if not, just as a guide :)

(Edited)

I am going to start today; just a little bit. I have so many books going right now, I will just have to fit this one in here and there.

I have wanted to read this forever and a day. Looking forward to finally reading it.

Good idea Debra! I was going to say something like that, as this is a more flexible group read :)

The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is in 4 volumes: 18 "books" overall. I'll link the 18 books to the beginning of the thread, as we go. The first 9 will take us to 14th October, so we'll start with 3 books in the first week, and then it's 2 for the other weeks. This is what Wiki says about the book:

"The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, often known simply as "Tom Jones", is a comic novel by English playwright and novelist Henry Fielding. It is a Bildungsroman and a picaresque novel. It was first published on 28 February 1749 in London and is among the earliest English works to be classified as a novel. It is the earliest novel mentioned by W. Somerset Maugham in his 1948 book Great novelists and their novels;: Essays on the ten greatest novels of the world, and the men and women who wrote them.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge argued that it has one of the "three most perfect plots ever planned", alongside Oedipus Tyrannus and The Alchemist. It became a best seller with four editions published in its first year alone. It is generally regarded as Fielding's greatest book and as an influential English novel."

We don't have a host for the first month, but Angela will take us through the second month. I'd misremembered this, and it's just been pointed out to me, thank goodness!

So how's this for a plan ...

As far as I remember there aren't too many spoilers in this book, except for a whopping big one near the end, but it's still best to be careful. It helps that The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is very organised, with short chapters, each with a little résumé of what will happen as its title. Charles Dickens also did this in his first few novels, copying the 18th century style. It proves very useful for us, to anchor where we are!

Also, the titles are carefully expressed so as not to be too spoilerish, but are good indications (or reminders, if you are reading ahead) of the events. Here's one at random:

"Chapter ix. — Containing love-letters of several sorts".

So would you like me (or anyone who would like to lead this first month) to post the titles of the chapters, every couple of days? It might be better than a detailed summary, since this will be a faster read. (It's a longer book!)

Jean - thanks for your input, as always. Starting with 3 books then 2 each week sounds like a good plan and very doable. I started today as I don’t want to be rushing. Looking forward to enjoying it with my buddy readers!

I hope so! It means 3 or 4 chapters each day, but they are much, much shorter than Charles Dickens's chapters :)

Hi everyone. I will host for the first month. I am going to reserve some spots here, just in case. Three books will be read this first week. (But, of course, everyone is free to read at their own pace.)

A question was brought about which edition to read. I do not have any idea. I wish I did. I am reading the free edition from Amazon.

Here is Book 1 and the 13 chapters in it.
The author gives a one sentence introduction to each chapter.

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.

Cast of Characters (so far) - Book 1

1. Narrator. Who really likes to talk to the reader.

2. Tom Jones. As an infant.

3. Squire Allworthy. Retired, wealthy widower, takes in Tom Jones.

4. Miss Bridget Allworthy. Sister to Mr. Allworthy.

5. Mrs Deborah Wilkins. Servant.

6. Jenny Jones. Mother to Tom Jones and a servant.

7. Dr. Blifil. Broke friend.

8. Captain Blifil. Brother to Dr. Blifil.

Summary of Book 1

We come across Tom Jones right away, but he is just a baby. The baby was found in Squire Allworthy's bed! Allworthy a kind, wealthy widower, decides to take baby in. He also finds and speaks to the mother, Jenny Jones. Miss Jones quickly admits to being the child's mother but will not give up the father's name. However, she does say that, one day, Allworthy will know the father's name. (I don't know if this is foreshadowing or not.) Allworthy sends Miss Jones away for a fresh start.

Dr. Blifil likes Bridget Allworthy, but he is married. However, he also has his eyes on the money. Since he cannot marry Bridget, he introduces her to his brother Captain Blifil. Bridget is attracted to Captain Blifil. And the Captain, who is also looking at the money, does everything he can to get in her good graces. Within a very short time, Bridget and the Captain marry. Then the Captain treats his brother poorly. Apparently the Captain, who did not exactly like his brother to begin with, now feels that they are no longer in this money scheme together. The brother leaves. And dies! Cause of death is a broken heart. It is unclear to me if the broken heart is about Bridget, the money, or the brother's behavior.

Thanks Debra - you are an absolute 🌟 star :) 🌟

: )

I have the Penguin Classic edition, with introduction and notes by R.P.C. Mutter, 911 pages.

Thanks, Daniela. I was curious what edition others were reading. Is yours a physical copy or digital? I was unable to find a Penguin Classic edition in digital. My digital edition does not give any publisher. I am a little worried about it. Also, there is nothing extra with it, no notes, just story.

I just got my book today, its also the Penguin edition. I've been reading a free ebook from the library for a couple days because I wanted to get a head start (I'm going to be reading Little Dorrit at the same time).

Is it too early to talk about the Dedication to George Lyttleton? I found it so interesting. I don't want to get ahead of anyone though, so its fine to wait until tomorrow.