Tobias Smollett was a physician and author whose novels often explored the lives of ordinary people with a sharp, satirical wit. His picaresque narratives, frequently featuring journeys and encounters with a diverse cast of characters, offer a vivid and often humorous depiction of 18th-century society. Smollett's work is characterized by its robust prose, keen social observation, and a distinctive blend of comedy and pathos. His literary legacy, admired even by later writers, lies in his unflinching portrayal of human nature and the complexities of the world.
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The narrative follows Peregrine Pickle, an egotistical dandy whose life is marked by a series of misadventures, from his troubled upbringing to his eventual redemption and marriage. Smollett's comic lens critiques 18th-century European society, juxtaposing the genteel with the common. The introduction offers insights into the novel's history and critical reception, while the text reflects the original 1751 edition, enhanced by illustrations from notable artists. A comprehensive textual apparatus concludes the work, enriching the reading experience.
In 1763, Tobias Smollett set sail from Folkestone to Boulogne. He would not return to England for two years, during which time he travelled extensively through much of France and Italy. This title presents a revealing portrait of 18th century Europe at a time when Marie Antoinette had just become queen of all France.
Roderick Random (1748), Smollett's first novel, is full of the dazzling vitality characteristics of all his work, as well as of his own life. Roderick is the boisterous and unprincipled hero who answers life's many misfortunes with a sledgehammer. Left penniless, he leaves his native Scotland for London and on the way meets Strap, and old schoolfellow. Together they undergo many adventures at the hands of scoundrels and rogues. Roderick qualifies as a surgeon's mate and is pressed as a common soldier on bord the man-of-war Thunder. In a tale of romance as well as adventure, Roderick also finds time to fall in love... Smollett drew on his own experiences as a surgeon's mate in the navy for the memorable scenes on board ship, and the novel combines documentary realism with great humour and panache. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
William Thackeray called it "the most laughable story that has ever been written since the goodly art of novel-writing began." As a group of travellers visit places in England and Scotland, they provide through satire and wit a vivid and detailed picture of the contemporary social and political scene.
The hero of "Ferdinand Count Fathom" (1753) is a monster of treachery and fraud. Fate and coincidence play a large part in his picaresque progress through England and Europe, and much of the narrative is written in a mock-heroic style.
