Considering how long it was, I'm surprised I ended up finishing The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding. I listened to it as background noise during my walks, and though I know it's meant to be comedic, the humour didn't click with me, though a couple points made me laugh.

It was interesting to get an insight on attitudes during the 1700s towards a bastard child and the assumptions that people made towards Tom. It was also interesting to read about the social norms and a little about the law (with the Squire acting as magistrate).

I was quite sympathetic towards Sophia and liked her chapters best. A lot of the characters were either uninteresting or exasperating.

However, Fielding did a good job of making a few characters I detested (I love a good villain). I wish we could have gotten more scenes with

  Blifil because he was so detestable and amped up the tension in the novel. Though I suppose that might have changed the story from a comedy to a drama.

 

There's scenes where minor characters, like maids or servants just talk and talk. I'm not sure if those scenes were meant to be humourous but they went on for too long for me to enjoy them. 

But there's other moments of characterization where, despite being a little over the top, were still entertaining, such as in the case of Squire Western, 

who claims to love Sophia above all else, while trying to force her into a marriage she hates, and punishing her when she won't go along with his plans.

There's a surprising twist towards the end and I generally enjoyed the final segment as everything was wrapped up. And some of Squire Western's outbursts made me laugh. 

 

I'm not really sure it's something I'd read again. But it still has its moments so I'd give it a 3 out of 5