Henry Fielding (1707-1754) was an author and magistrate. Best remembered for his novel Tom Jones, Fielding is also known as one of the founders of the English novel (alongside Samuel Richardson, whom Fielding had something of a rivalry with) and the creator of the Bow Street Runners.
Life[]
Born in Sharpham Park in late April of 1707, Henry was the son of a general and the great-nephew of the Earl of Denbigh. He was the younger brother of Sarah (a somewhat successful author). When Henry was eleven, his mother died and Henry was placed into the care of his grandmother. Around three years later, Henry's half-brother John was born.
Henry was educated at Eton College and met William Pitt the Elder (the future Earl of Chapham) at Eton. The two became lifelong friends. When Henry was eighteen years old, he tried to abduct one of his cousins. To avoid being thrown in jail for the crime, Henry fled. A few years later, Henry travelled to Leiden to enter into a university but was forced to return to London due to debt. While in London, Henry began writing for the theatre and periodicals. Many of his works from this period poked fun at Prime Minister Henry Walpole - leading to Walpole making the "Theatrical Licensing Act of 1737", an act which ruined many parts of satire on the stage. Following this, Henry retired from writing plays and became a barrister.
rest to be added
Writing style[]
Throughout his career, Henry frequently used satire and a comedic tone. A common butt of Henry's jokes was Prime Minister Henry Walpole - most notably in Henry's early satires and in the novel Jonathan Wild. Despite his hatred for Walpole, Henry was a devout Whig.
rest to be added
Notable works[]
Novels and novellas[]
- Shamela - a novella poking fun at Richardson's Pamela.
- Joseph Andrews - a novel written "in imitation of the manner of Cervantes, the author of Don Quixote"
- Jonathan Wild - a novel about the real titular figure. Pokes fun at Henry Walpole.
- Tom Jones - Fielding's longest work and one of the longest novels in the Early Modern period.
- A Journey from this World to the Next - a satire about a man who dies and passes to the next world.
- Amelia - a less comedic novel.
Sources[]
- Wikipedia