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A review by watoozi
The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling by Henry Fielding
5.0
SO. FREAKING. FUNNY.
A Quixote-esque journey of a Dickens-like hero, mixed in with a lot of Balzac-scandal and a little light Hugo-moralizing for fun.
Loved it.
I had to really examine my own prejudices. I felt like the author (a close personal friend after so many pages) was on a mission to prove that a very unchaste, extremely naive young man can actually be a really good guy. A whole lotta stupid decisions had me writhing and snorting out loud, but oh, how I loved this kid.
Some gems:
“True it is, that philosophy makes us wiser, but Christianity makes us better men. Philosophy elevates and steels the mind, Christianity softens and sweetens it. The former makes us the objects of human admiration, the latter of divine love. That ensures us a temporal, but this and eternal happiness.”
“Twelve times did the iron register of time beat on the sonorous bell metal, summoning the ghosts to rise and walk their nightly round. In plainer language, it was 12 o’clock.”
“When children are doing nothing they are doing mischief.”
“These authors ... elevate the mind, and steel and harden it against the capricious invasions of fortune. They not only instruct in the knowledge of Wisdom, but confirm men in her habits, and demonstrate plainly, that this must be our guide, if we propose ever to arrive at the greatest worldly happiness."
A Quixote-esque journey of a Dickens-like hero, mixed in with a lot of Balzac-scandal and a little light Hugo-moralizing for fun.
Loved it.
I had to really examine my own prejudices. I felt like the author (a close personal friend after so many pages) was on a mission to prove that a very unchaste, extremely naive young man can actually be a really good guy. A whole lotta stupid decisions had me writhing and snorting out loud, but oh, how I loved this kid.
Some gems:
“True it is, that philosophy makes us wiser, but Christianity makes us better men. Philosophy elevates and steels the mind, Christianity softens and sweetens it. The former makes us the objects of human admiration, the latter of divine love. That ensures us a temporal, but this and eternal happiness.”
“Twelve times did the iron register of time beat on the sonorous bell metal, summoning the ghosts to rise and walk their nightly round. In plainer language, it was 12 o’clock.”
“When children are doing nothing they are doing mischief.”
“These authors ... elevate the mind, and steel and harden it against the capricious invasions of fortune. They not only instruct in the knowledge of Wisdom, but confirm men in her habits, and demonstrate plainly, that this must be our guide, if we propose ever to arrive at the greatest worldly happiness."