Let's be real, a novel from 1749 might sound like homework. But History of Tom Jones, a Foundling is anything but. Henry Fielding writes with a wink, like he's letting you in on the biggest joke of the 18th century.

The Story

The book opens with a baby, Tom, being left on the bed of the wealthy Squire Allworthy. The Squire raises him kindly alongside his own nephew, the sneaky Blifil. Tom grows into a generous but impulsive young man, while Blifil is all scheming politeness. Tom falls head over heels for Sophia, the spirited daughter of the neighboring Squire Western. Her father, however, wants her to marry the 'respectable' Blifil. When Allworthy is tricked into believing the worst of Tom, our hero is cast out with nothing.

What follows is a road trip epic. Tom journeys toward London, meeting a wild cast of characters: philosophers, soldiers, hypocrites, and kind strangers. Meanwhile, Sophia flees her forced marriage, chasing rumors of Tom. Their paths keep almost crossing, blocked by lies, accidents, and Tom's own tendency to land in a lady's bed (which causes him no end of trouble). The whole sprawling adventure races toward a London showdown, where all the secrets about Tom's true parentage finally come out.

Why You Should Read It

Here's the magic: Tom isn't a perfect hero. He makes terrible decisions, especially about women. But his heart is always in the right place. You root for him because he's genuinely good, not because he's pure. Fielding is poking fun at everyone—the rich, the pious, the snobs—with sharp, funny prose that still lands today. The plot is a masterclass in weaving dozens of characters and subplots into one satisfying ending. It's a book about how goodness isn't about being proper, but about being kind. It argues that our messy, passionate hearts matter more than our social standing.

Final Verdict

This is the perfect book for someone who thinks classic novels are stuffy. If you enjoy clever humor, complicated characters you want to both hug and shake, and stories where virtue wins without being boring, you'll love Tom Jones. It's a long ride, but it's like binge-watching a great, witty TV series. Give it fifty pages to get the rhythm, and you'll be hooked on one of the first and funniest great English novels ever written.