1784 The Works of Henry Fielding In ten volumes

Description

Illustrated, Rebound, Scarce

A New Edition. With an essay on the life and genius of the author, and to which is now added, The Fathers; or, The Good-natured Man. With a portrait plate, frontispieces to each volume, and one additional plate in volume VI. With armorial bookplates of Capt. John Lornel to two front pastedowns. Complete in ten volumes. Henry Fielding (Sharpham, 22 April 1707 – near Lisbon, 8 October 1754) was an English novelist and dramatist known for his rich earthy humour and satirical prowess, and as the author of the novel Tom Jones. Aside from his literary achievements, he has a significant place in the history of law-enforcement, having founded (with his half-brother John) what some have called London's first police force, the Bow Street Runners, using his authority as a magistrate. Fielding never stopped writing political satire and satires of current arts and letters. His Tragedy of Tragedies of Tom Thumb (for which Hogarth designed the frontispiece) was, for example, quite successful as a printed play. He also contributed a number of works to journals of the day. He wrote for Tory periodicals, usually under the name of "Captain Hercules Vinegar". During the late 1730s and early 1740s Fielding continued to air his liberal and anti-Jacobite views in satirical articles and newspapers.