Henry Fielding, The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams

Thomas R. Cleary (University of British Columbia)

The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.2.1.05: English Writing and Culture from the Glorious Revolution to the French Revolution, 1689-1789.
Vol. editors: Paul Baines (University of Liverpool), Daniel Cook (University of Dundee), Pat Rogers (University of South Florida), Nicholas Seager (University of Keele)

Dates

First circulation or publication 1742

Places

England (Country of Origin)

Genres and Modes

Novel
- Bildungsroman
Picaresque

Resources

Henry Fielding's first major novel, “The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams” (1742) centers upon the maturational, character-testing and ultimately identity-clarifying experiences of Joseph Andrews, a virtuous and handsome footman “in his one and twentieth year,” who, in Fielding's mystery-hinting words, “was esteemed to be the only Son of Gaffer and Gammer Andrews, and Brother to the illustrious Pamela [heroine of Richardson's very successful novel of 1740, Pamela or Virtue Rewarded] whose Virtue is at present so famous.” A parodic travesty involving reversals in the genders (or ”clothing”) of the protagonist and upper-class antagonist of Pamela, previously …

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1845 words

Citation: Cleary, Thomas R.. "The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and of his Friend Mr. Abraham Adams". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 26 June 2002 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=1642, accessed 23 November 2024.]

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