A. Fielding

Biography

Henry Fielding was born on April 22, 1707, at Sharpham Park in Somerset, England, into an aristocratic family that traced its lineage to the Habsburgs. Educated at Eton College where he befriended future statesman George Lyttelton, Fielding first pursued a career as a playwright in London during the 1730s. His satirical plays, particularly those critical of Prime Minister Robert Walpole's government, were so effective that they prompted the Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737, which required all new plays to be licensed before production.

Forced from the theater by government censorship, Fielding turned to law and was admitted to the bar in 1740. However, his literary ambitions were reignited by Samuel Richardson's novel Pamela, which Fielding parodied in his anonymous work Shamela (1741). This led to his masterpiece Joseph Andrews (1742), followed by The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749), widely considered one of the greatest English novels ever written. Fielding's innovative approach combined elements of classical epic with realistic social commentary, establishing the template for the modern novel.

Beyond literature, Fielding served as a magistrate for Westminster and Middlesex from 1748, using his position to establish the Bow Street Runners, London's first professional police force. His dual career as writer and magistrate informed his deep understanding of human nature and social justice, themes that permeate his fiction. He died on October 8, 1754, in Lisbon, Portugal, where he had traveled seeking relief from his declining health, leaving behind a literary legacy that transformed English fiction forever.

Major Works & Series

Literary Significance & Legacy

Fielding revolutionized English fiction by moving beyond the epistolary novels of his contemporaries like Samuel Richardson to create what he called 'comic epic-poems in prose.' His innovations included omniscient narration, complex plotting, and the integration of social commentary with entertaining storytelling. Tom Jones, in particular, influenced generations of novelists from Charles Dickens to modern writers, establishing the template for the novel as a comprehensive portrait of society through individual character development.

As a magistrate and legal reformer, Fielding brought unprecedented realism to his portrayal of crime, punishment, and social justice in 18th-century England. His creation of the Bow Street Runners and his pamphlets on legal reform directly influenced British law enforcement for decades. This dual expertise in literature and law allowed him to create fiction that was both entertaining and socially conscious, making him one of the first writers to use the novel as a vehicle for serious social criticism while maintaining its popular appeal.

Best Starting Points

• The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling
  Fielding's masterpiece offers the perfect introduction to his genius, combining rollicking adventure with profound social commentary in an perfectly structured plot.
• Joseph Andrews
  A more accessible entry point that showcases Fielding's humor and social satire while introducing readers to his innovative narrative techniques.
• Shamela
  A brief but brilliant parody that demonstrates Fielding's wit and satirical prowess, ideal for understanding his literary philosophy.

Famous Characters

• Tom Jones
  The good-hearted but impulsive foundling whose adventures epitomize the conflict between natural goodness and social expectations.
• Parson Abraham Adams
  The absent-minded but genuinely virtuous clergyman from Joseph Andrews, one of literature's most beloved comic figures.
• Sophia Western
  Tom's beloved, a spirited and intelligent heroine who defies her father's attempts to control her romantic destiny.
• Squire Allworthy
  Tom's benevolent guardian, representing 18th-century ideals of rational benevolence and moral authority.
• Squire Western
  Sophia's blustering, hunting-obsessed father who embodies the robust but narrow-minded country squire.
• Jonathan Wild
  The mock-heroic criminal mastermind whose 'greatness' satirizes political corruption and false values.