Folio Archives 297: Tom Jones by Henry Fielding 2008
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1wcarter
Tom Jones by Henry Fielding 2008
Tom Jones is one of the classics of English literature, but a very long book and quite difficult to read in some parts with some paragraphs running for several pages without interruption. I must admit that I skipped sections when reading it. My copy is very tightly bound and impossible to open flat.
Tom is a foundling raised by a kind-hearted squire. As an adult he is thwarted in love because of his poor social status. Numerous domestic dramas ensue, and Tom is eventually unfairly expelled from the squire’s home. He sets out to make his fortune and a new life and has many adventures that vary from helping others in need to swordfights, adopting another identity and of course numerous bawdy intermissions with wilful and lusty women.
The book was first published in 1749 and has been in print ever since. The Folio Society has published it four times over the years :-
- 1959 - last FS book to be published with a dust-jacket
- 1973 – in a new binding
- 1995 – as part of a four volume set of Fielding’s works
- 2008 – in a new binding (this review).
All editions have the same content and engravings and only differ in their bindings.
This 636 page book has a two page preface by Jonathan Cox and 35 integrated one-third page wood-engravings by Derrick Harris. There are 18 books within the volume, each divided into numerous chapters. It is bound in off-white cloth pictorially blocked on covers and spine in brown, green and black. The endpapers are plain brown and the 23.7x16cm. slipcase is green.
1959 edition
1973 edition
1995 edition
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
Tom Jones is one of the classics of English literature, but a very long book and quite difficult to read in some parts with some paragraphs running for several pages without interruption. I must admit that I skipped sections when reading it. My copy is very tightly bound and impossible to open flat.
Tom is a foundling raised by a kind-hearted squire. As an adult he is thwarted in love because of his poor social status. Numerous domestic dramas ensue, and Tom is eventually unfairly expelled from the squire’s home. He sets out to make his fortune and a new life and has many adventures that vary from helping others in need to swordfights, adopting another identity and of course numerous bawdy intermissions with wilful and lusty women.
The book was first published in 1749 and has been in print ever since. The Folio Society has published it four times over the years :-
- 1959 - last FS book to be published with a dust-jacket
- 1973 – in a new binding
- 1995 – as part of a four volume set of Fielding’s works
- 2008 – in a new binding (this review).
All editions have the same content and engravings and only differ in their bindings.
This 636 page book has a two page preface by Jonathan Cox and 35 integrated one-third page wood-engravings by Derrick Harris. There are 18 books within the volume, each divided into numerous chapters. It is bound in off-white cloth pictorially blocked on covers and spine in brown, green and black. The endpapers are plain brown and the 23.7x16cm. slipcase is green.
1959 edition
1973 edition
1995 edition
An index of the other illustrated reviews in the "Folio Archives" series can be viewed here.
2English-bookseller
Thank you for that wonderful post.
I wish the Society would publish other early and great novels, perhaps in a series on the History of the Novel.
I wish the Society would publish other early and great novels, perhaps in a series on the History of the Novel.
