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.
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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 -- A proof of the infallibility of the foregoing receipt, in the lamentations of the widow; with other suitable decorations
of death, such as physicians, &c., and an epitaph in the true stile.
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 EDUCATION OF CHILDREN.
Chapter i -- Containing little or nothing.
Chapter ii -- The heroe of this great history appears with very bad omens. A little tale of so LOW a kind that some may think it not worth their notice. A word or two concerning a squire, and more relating to a gamekeeper and a schoolmaster.
Chapter iii -- The character of Mr Square the philosopher, and of Mr Thwackum the divine; with a dispute concerning---- Chapter iv.
Containing a necessary apology for the author; and a childish incident, which perhaps requires an apology likewise --
Chapter v. -- The opinions of the divine and the philosopher concerning the two boys; with some reasons for their opinions, and other matters.
Chapter vi -- Containing a better reason still for the before-mentioned opinions. Chapter vii -- In which the author himself makes his appearance on the stage.
Chapter viii -- A childish incident, in which, however, is seen a good-natured disposition in Tom Jones. Chapter ix -- Containing an incident of a more heinous kind, with the comments of Thwackum and Square. Chapter x -- In which Master Blifil and Jones appear in different lights.
BOOK IV -- CONTAINING THE TIME OF A YEAR.
Chapter i -- Containing five pages of paper.
Chapter ii -- A short hint of what we can do in the sublime, and a description of Miss Sophia Western.
Chapter 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.
Chapter iv -- Containing such very deep and grave matters, that some readers, perhaps, may not relish it. Chapter v -- Containing matter accommodated to every taste.
Chapter vi -- An apology for the insensibility of Mr Jones to all the charms of the lovely Sophia; in which possibly we may, in a considerable degree, lower his character in the estimation of those men of wit and gallantry who approve the heroes in most of our modern comedies.
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Chapter vii -- Being the shortest chapter in this book.
Chapter viii -- A battle sung by the muse in the Homerican style, and which none but the classical reader can taste. Chapter ix -- Containing matter of no very peaceable colour.
Chapter 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.
Chapter xi -- The narrow escape of Molly Seagrim, with some observations for which we have been forced to dive pretty deep into nature.
Chapter xii -- Containing much clearer matters; but which flowed from the same fountain with those in the preceding chapter.
Chapter xiii -- A dreadful accident which befel 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.
Chapter xiv -- The arrival of a surgeon.--His operations, and a long dialogue between Sophia and her maid. BOOK V -- CONTAINING A PORTION OF TIME SOMEWHAT LONGER THAN HALF A YEAR. Chapter i -- Of the SERIOUS in writing, and for what purpose it is introduced.
Chapter 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.
Chapter iii -- Which all who have no heart will think to contain much ado about nothing. Chapter iv -- A little chapter, in which is contained a little incident.
Chapter v -- A very long chapter, containing a very great incident.
Chapter 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.
Chapter vii -- In which Mr Allworthy appears on a sick-bed. Chapter viii -- Containing matter rather natural than pleasing.
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