The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews, and of His Friend Mr. Abraham Adams: And, an Apology for the Life of Mrs. Shamela Andrews
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Author Description
'I beg as soon as you get Fielding's Joseph Andrews, I fear in Ridicule of your Pamela and of Virtue in the Notion of Don Quixote's Manner, you would send it to me by the very first Coach.' (George Cheyne in a letter to Samuel Richardson, February 1742) Both Joseph Andrews (1742) and Shamela (1741) were prompted by the success of Richardson's Pamela (1740), of which Shamela is a splendidly bawdy parody. But in Shamela Fielding also demonstrates his concern for the corruption of contemporary society, politics, religion, morality, and taste. The same themes - together with a presentation of love as charity, as friendship, and in its sexual taste - are present in Joseph Andrews, Fielding's first novel. It is a work of considerable literary sophistication and satirical verve, but its appeal lies also in its spirit of comic affirmation, epitomized in the celebrated character of Parson Adams. This revised and expanded edition follows the text of Joseph Andrews established by Martin C. Battestin for the definitive Wesleyan Edition of Fielding's works. The text of Shamela is based on the first edition, and two substantial appendices reprint the preliminary matter from Conyers Middleton's Life of Cicero and the second edition of Richardson's Pamela (both closely parodied in Shamela). A new introduction by Thomas Keymer situates Fielding's works in their critical and historical contexts.
Menrva's Summary
THE PULSE
Joseph Andrews finds himself cast out of service and into a series of picaresque encounters after refusing the advances of his employer, Lady Booby. The protagonist, a virtuous footman, seeks to reunite with his beloved Fanny Goodwill while navigating the treacherous social landscape of 18th-century England. He is accompanied by the eccentric and learned Parson Adams, whose idealism frequently clashes with the pragmatic, often corrupt, nature of the people they encounter. The narrative utilizes a third-person omniscient perspective to provide ironic commentary on the hypocrisy of the era's social and moral standards.
INSIDE THE PAGES
- Use of the picaresque novel structure involving episodic travel
- Extensive satirical parody of Samuel Richardson's Pamela
- Incorporation of mock-epic literary devices and classical allusions
- Development of the 'comic epic in prose' as a formal genre
- Characterization of Parson Adams as a figure of moral integrity and physical comedy
- Direct address to the reader through authorial commentary
- Exploration of the tension between virtue and social ambition
- Inclusion of Shamela as a bawdy, direct critique of contemporary morality
THE COLLECTIVE ECHO
Readers and critics frequently highlight the sharp contrast between the earnest, virtuous nature of Joseph Andrews and the cynical, manipulative world he inhabits. Discussion often centers on the effectiveness of Fielding's satire in exposing the moral failings of the landed gentry and the clergy. The character of Parson Adams is widely regarded as one of the most memorable creations in English literature, serving as both a source of humor and a moral compass. Scholars emphasize that the work functions as a sophisticated critique of the sentimentalism popular in the mid-18th century. The balance between slapstick physical comedy and intellectual social commentary remains a primary focus for those analyzing the text's enduring relevance.
Page Count:
438
Publication Date:
2005-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192503340
ISBN-13:
9780192503343
Satire
Picaresque
classic
18th century
England
Comedy of Manners
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